Premiership: A fullback he may be, but Ian Harte became top Irish scorer in the Premiership on Saturday with a penalty for Leeds at West Ham, his sixth goal of the season. Denis Irwin missed his spot kick for Manchester United against Aston Villa, but at least achieved the distinction earlier in the week of being the only Irish player named in the PFA Premiership team of the season.

Jason Gavin, a member of the Irish under-20 squad in Nigeria, made his debut for Middlesbrough against Newcastle on Saturday (Irish under-21 Michael Cummins was also in the squad), while Terry Phelan was on the bench for Everton at Chelsea. Phelan played his first match in 15 months for Everton's reserves last Monday night, but was sent off for deliberate hand-ball. He has his second outing on Wednesday against Aston Villa's reserves.

Division One: Daryl Clare came on as a substitute for Grimsby against Tranmere on Saturday and scored the only goal of the game. Tranmere's Irish midfielder Alan Mahon was watched by Rangers' chief scout Ewan Chester last week, fuelling rumours that the Irish under-21 could be Ibrox-bound next season. Elsewhere, Alan McLoughlin scored a consolation goal for Portsmouth in their 3-1 defeat at Crewe, while Bristol City's Tom Doherty was sent off in the final minute of their defeat at Sheffield United. Division Two: Sean Devine made it eight goals in nine appearances for Wycombe in their 2-2 draw with Blackpool, while Gary Doherty scored his sixth of the season for Luton in a 2-1 defeat by Macclesfield.

Division Three: Robert Quinn helped ensure Brentford clinched promotion on Saturday by scoring their first goal in a 3-0 win over Exeter, while in his 20th appearance, Plymouth's Glen Crowe, the former Wolves' striker, finally scored his first goal of the season in their 2-2 draw with Cambridge.

Mixed news for the Irish contingent at Peterborough - Irish under-18 international Tony Shields, who has kept his place in the side since making his debut last month, has signed a new five-year contract at the club, but goalkeeper Daniel Connor, who has also been given a new deal, has suffered yet another injury set-back, breaking his leg in an under-19 game having recovered from a cruciate ligament he picked up last season. Connor's Irish under-21 and Peterborough team-mate Niall Inman had an operation last Monday after being plagued by a knee injury since the start of the year.