Lee hits hat trick - February 12, 2001
Galway-born 22-year-old Alan Lee hit his eighth, ninth and tenth goals of the season as Rotherham cruised to a 3-0 win over Cambridge United.
It was the former Republic of Ireland u21 international's first hat-trick in senior football and it took his tally to nine goals in thirteen games since joining Rotherham from Burnley in November.
The former Aston Villa striker wasn't the only Irishman on target in the Nationwide League at the weekend: Stoke City midfielder James O'Connor - a year younger than Lee - notched the fourth goal in his club's 4-0 hammering of Peterborough. It was the Dubliner's eighth of the season - not a bad return from midfield!
And O'Connor's Irish u21 international Michael Reddy was on the mark again for Swindon in their 1-1 draw with Bristol City. It was the Kilkennyman's second strike in four starts for the Robins, where Reddy is on loan from Premiership Sunderland.
On the debit side, Fulham's Steve Finnan, Crewe's Jim Gannon, Wycombe's Paul McCarthy and Luton's Liam George all picked up yellow cards. But at least McCarthy's caution signalled the centre back's return from injury!