Newport County AFC returned to action following the international break with a 2-0 victory over Grimsby Town to book their place in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup but not everyone had the weekend off.
Saturday’s trip to Blundell Park was postponed because the Club had three players representing their countries.
Last Thursday was a memorable night for on-loan defender Danny McNamara as he made his debut for Republic of Ireland U21s.
The full back took his place on the right-hand side of defence and guided his side to a 1-0 win over Armenia U21, despite playing the final 15 minutes with 10 men after Dara O’Shea was sent off.
Zachary Elbouzedi got the only goal of the game but McNamara went close to marking his first game with a goal early in the second half.
The young Irishmen followed that up with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Sweden U21, but McNamara was an unused substitute.
Lee O’Connor, Adam Idah, Troy Parrott and Elbouzedi all scored after the break after Viktor Gyökeres had given Sweden the lead.
Republic of Ireland U21 sit top of Group 1, three points ahead of Italy albeit having played two games more, in the quest to reach the U21 European Championship in 2021.
Elsewhere, Keanu Marsh-Brown helped Guyana claim a place in the 2021 Gold Cup play-offs.
The Golden Jaguars enjoyed a 4-2 victory over Aruba in the CONCACAF Nations League on Saturday, which put them in a strong position.
Guyana fell behind twice to an early Glenbert Croes strike and a Gregor Breinburg penalty but Guyana hit back through Matthew Briggs and Callum Harriott respectively.
Trayon Bobb then sealed the comeback with a second-half brace.
They followed that up with a credible 1-1 draw with Jamaica, who dropped points for the first time in League B Group C.
Emery Welshman put Guyana ahead but Javon East equalised five minutes after the break. Marsh-Brown was replaced on 86 minutes but they held on to secure second in the group and, with it, qualification to the Gold Cup play-offs.
Meanwhile, Tom King was an unused substitute as Wales beat Azerbaijan and Hungary 2-0 to qualify for Euro 2020.
The goalkeeper was an unused substitute on both occasions but would have learned valuable experience during his time with the national side.
Needing victories in both games to automatically qualify for next summer’s tournament, goals from Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson against Azerbaijan set up a winner-takes-all clash at the Cardiff City Stadium against Hungary on Tuesday night.
Aaron Ramsey made his first start of the qualifying campaign and was the hero with both goals and an all-action display to ensure Wales made it to a second major championship in four years.