There were mixed fortunes for the Irish in the English FA Cup over the weekend, but few were happier than Fulham's Limerick-born winger Steve Finnan, who played his part in the Second Division club's 2-0 win away to Aston Villa on Saturday.

A good day too for Ian Harte who scored Leeds' second goal, direct from a free-kick, in their 5-1 win at Portsmouth. But Jeff Kenna's dismissal in Blackburn's 1-0 victory over Sunderland ruined his week, which began well when he signed a new deal at Ewood Park that will keep him at the club for another three seasons. In the league (Second Division), Richard Sadlier scored a consolation goal for Millwall, in their 2-1 home defeat by Burnley, and in the Third Division Paul Armstrong scored the only goal of the game to give Brighton the points against Scarborough.

Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson has turned down Bristol Rovers' request to sign Irish under-21 Mark McKeever on a permanent basis, so he will return to Hillsborough when his loan spell at the Third Division club is completed next month. Another Irish under-21, Barnet striker Sean Devine, looks set to join Orient in a swap deal, while Wolves' Glen Crowe, who has been told he will not be offered a new contract in the summer, has been offered a second week's trial at Plymouth.