Irish in the Premier League: Increased involvement provides case for optimism 

Way back in the distance are the embryonic days of the Premier League, when the Irish accounted for 64,000 minutes in the maiden 1992/93 campaign.

MORE MINUTES, MORE IMPACT: Liverpool's Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher throws the ball during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton. Pic: PAUL ELLIS, Getty Images

Portents of optimism for Irish football’s future are scarce within the present state of paralysis but at least the English Premier League presence has increased.

Sunday’s concluding series of fixtures accumulated a total minute haul of 15,566 for 17 players. Twelve months ago, one fewer featured in the top-flight and their game-time descended to record depths of 9,329.