Potential Irish storylines to be written across FA Cup third-round weekend
CHANCE FOR MINUTES: Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Everton's Jake O'Brien battle for the ball. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire.
FA Cup third round weekend has morphed into a five-day feast and still provides a platform for Irish players to access gametime or a scalp.
Running between Thursday to Monday, qualifiers from the first two rounds will duel with Premier League and Championship outfits for progression to the last-32.
Non-league Tamworth hosting Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday is a mismatch Ange Postecoglou cannot contemplate slipping up in. Ditto Sean Dyche against third-tier Peterborough on Thursday.
Manchester City, denied another double in last yearâs final, welcome neighbours Salford City and their gallery of stars from Manchester Unitedâs golden area into the directors box.
Here we look at some of the potential Irish storylines, opportunities for the top-flight idle to become active and others in the lower reaches to strike a punt at toppling a giant.
The winger wasnât waiting around Celtic for an opening, quitting the former club of his Dad Rudi in the summer after just six appearances.
Watford is notorious for its volatility but the Ireland U21 attacker has so far racked up 18 appearances, bagging his first two goals in December too, gradually working his way into contention for senior promotion.
Rudi hasnât ruled out Albania as an alternative route and another masterclass against Premier League opposition could stiffen the competition.
When OâBrien tweeted âcanât wait to get startedâ following his summer move from Lyon, the expectation was for more than 214 minutes by the midway stage of the season.
A mere four involvements, two as a sub in the league and another pair in the League Cup, amount to the centre-backâs participation.
That the team is immersed in another relegation battle only deepens the frustration, amplifying the importance of the 23-year-old grasping any morsel of opportunity.
Heâs overdue this selection.
Long-serving captain SĂ©amus Conneely (36) will hope to lead the team out at Anfield but another ex-Galway United player, 14 years younger, will also relish the stage.
Limerick-born Costelloe was the shock inclusion in Vincent Kompanyâs managerial debut at Burnley two-and-a-half years ago but has since undertaken four loan spells, the latest with League One Accrington.
A dangerous attacker with a turn of pace, he may have to prove his fitness to feature against the Premier League leaders.
Romantic notions of Wayne Rooney finally untapping the potential of fellow striker Obafemi during their spell at Plymouth soon perished.
Just two goals, the last in early November, have been delivered by the Irish striker and Plymouth being marooned at the foot of the table cost Rooney his job last week.
It may well be the case that Obafemi is marked by his compatriot Nathan Collins in this Cup clash but the chances are running out for the 24-year-old to produce the goods.
Not a player but the role of Barry Roche will be crucial for Morecambe to have designs on perforating the might of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The former goalkeeper of Brian Kerrâs underage Ireland team was 12 years as the clubâs No 1 before retiring in 2020 to join the staff as goalkeeping coach.
Working alongside manager Derek Adams, theyâve endured a challenging season as the second-bottom team in League Two. Attempting to shackle a team fourth in the Premier League will widens the test.
Cork native OâConnor came within 15 minutes of dumping Tottenham out of the FA Cup three years ago when his goal had Morecambe ahead at White Hart Lane.
They couldnât hold on but, with the club he joined 12 months later, heâs plotting Harrogateâs downfall of Yorkshire neighbours Leeds United.
Thatâs an uphill task against the Championship leaders but OâConnor leads by example as captain, veteran and towering centre-back.
Negru was still an amateur player when lining out for Damien Duffâs Shelbourne in the 2022 FAI Cup final.Â
Oxford United swooped for a bargain purchase and the defender, still only 22, has spent this season on loan at the club owned by Manchester Unitedâs Class of â92.
Also eligible for Moldova, he was in contention for Irelandâs U21s before drifting overage. Marking Erling Haaland ought to supply an insight as to his capabilities.
Only for the wondrous goalscoring intervention of their âkeeper against Oldham, the League One outfit wouldnât be sharing the stage with Championship stock today.
Keeley â on loan from Tottenham Hotspur for the season â channelled Jimmy Glass with his late headed equaliser but itâs his hands and feet that have been most beneficial to his temporary club.
The side languishing 16th in the Conference have nothing to lose against a Spurs side in wretched form.
Tamworthâs two Irish players were only part of one FAI underage camp apiece each, after declaring through ancestry, but could figure in this tie attracting spotlight.
Injury denied a third, Walsall loanee Ronan Maher, his big day.
Another non-playing member of the underdog is out to plot a surprise. Dunne was known for being a fierce competitor during his 22 years at Millwall.
Born in Dublin, his ambition to represent Ireland didnât materialise but heâs still involved in the game, helping Bromley break the ceiling of promotion into the football league as assistant coach.
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