Irish in Britain: How they fared this weekend

Premiership: Rory Delap played his first game since St Stephens' Day for Derby on Saturday and Jason McAteer scored his first goal of the season for Blackburn but both were on the losing side, to Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday, respectively.

Division One: As one Sunderland fan put it, on the club's "Ready to Go" website on Saturday night: "Have my baby Mr Quinn - you sexy thing". Yes, Niall scored again, his 17th of the season, this time a 90th-minute winner against Wolves to move Sunderland 10 points clear at the top of the table. New Irish B cap Matt Holland helped keep Ipswich in contention for the second automatic promotion spot, scoring their first goal in a 2-1 win over Oxford.

Division Two: Three days after scoring the golden goal that put Millwall in to the semi-finals of the Auto Windscreens Shield, Irish under-21 Richard Sadlier was sent off at the New Den for his second bookable offence on Saturday. The same fate befell former Irish under-21 David Greene, red-carded for an off-the-ball incident in Colchester's game at Gillingham.

Round-Up: Brentford midfielder Martin Rowlands has turned down the chance to play for the Republic in April's World Under-20 Championships in Nigeria - he withdrew from Brian Kerr's panel last week, saying he would decide at the end of the season whether to declare for the Republic or England. Willie Boland and Barry Prenderville have been transfer-listed by Coventry City while team-mate Liam Daish could be on his way to Stoke City on a loan spell, after failing to get a game at Highfield Road this season.