Whether you began your career in the League of Ireland or a Premier League academy, there are certain things you learn.
- If you score a late consolation goal the only acceptable celebration is to dash into the goal and wrestle the ball out of the goalkeeper’s hands.
- If you score a perfect hat-trick and win man of the match in a 3-0 victory you still have to admit the result is the main thing in all post-match interviews.
- AND if you score the fourth in a 4-2 win, don’t bang on about it.
So, fair play to Preston new boy Daryl Horgan, who gave a pitch perfect interview to the club’s website following Saturday’s 4-2 win over Brentford.
Not a bother to Daryl Horgan #preston #mazy pic.twitter.com/0NJzpnwBm9
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) February 11, 2017
The Galway native may have grabbed his first goal in English football following his move from Airtricity League champions Dundalk but he was not going to bang on about that.
Lilywhites fans will have been forgiven a little wistful tear at the sight of the bustling Horgan gathering the ball in midfield, putting the head down, making a bee-line for the Bees goal and sliding a left-foot shot beyond the keeper. How many times did he do that for Dundalk?
Modesty comes in a number of forms. Horgan could have gone with option two above and admitted the result was the most important. He could have downplayed his own contribution, seeing as it was the fourth of four goals (option three above) or he could be properly modest and single out another team-mate for all the praise.
That is what 24-year-old Horgan did – giving two-goal hero Aiden McGeady all the credit for the win that leaves Preston in 11th place in the Championship table.
“It was nice to score but I think the main headline is Aiden and his two goals this afternoon,” said Horgan post-match.
“He was a constant thorn in their side with his two goals and the assist – both of his goals were something special.”
Horgan also finds time to praise Ben Pearson for the straight-forward square ball that put him through.
“Hopefully it’s the first goal of many here at Preston; It was a great ball from Pearo (Ben Pearson), and it just opened up for me and thankfully it went in.”
That was only Horgan’s third start for Preston but it would appear he is already making a great impression on his team-mates and, when he is called up by Martin O’Neill for the Wales qualifier next month, you can be sure he will be warmly welcomed by McGeady.
But first things first, Preston welcome Gianfranco Zola’s Birmingham City to Deepdale on Tuesday.
“It will be another tough game having watched them last night,” said Horgan. “They were a little unlucky to lose that game 3-0. They’ve got a new manager so you never really know what might happen but it will be a different game for us; however, we’ll put ourselves in with a great shot and hopefully get the three points.”
Not underestimating your next opponent. That’s another.
