Daryl Horgan (M Wycombe Wanderers b.1992)

[OwlsFan]

Preston don't have a great run-in.

They need to win the very winnable next two v Wigan & QPR. But then they've Fulham away, Derby away and Reading at home, followed by the Lancs derby away in Ewood. If they were to make ground on Leeds and Wednesday after those 5 then they will be contenders.

Their April fixtures are nightmareish. Leeds away, Huddersfield away, Norwich home, Newcastle away. That said, no team is going to want to face McGeady, Horgan, Hugill and Robinson in the form they are in at present.

I'll give you 10/1 on a fiver that Preston will not be in the play offs. McGeady's form, I am afraid, is like Wordsworth's daffodils. A thing of beauty for a short while and then it fades away.

Horgan's form is of more interest and whether it can be sustained in the Championship.

[DannyInvincible]

Dundalk's fitness coach Graham Byrne (also head of fitness at DCU) talks up Horgan's approach to professionalism, fitness and conditioning (video interview in link): http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/...-of-loi-stars/

...

Rather than tiring, Horgan is going from strength-to-strength in the second tier in England.

It represents the progression for League of Ireland players in recent times in terms of conditioning.

Byrne, head of fitness at DCU, joined the Lilywhites when Stephen Kenny took over at the club ahead of the 2013 campaign and has been hailed as a key part of their success.

He said: “Our objective around four or five years ago when I started working with Dundalk was to get to a level where we could be as fit as any team.

“We had full-time players - we might not have the academies that other clubs across the water have – but why can we not get our players as fit as the teams across Europe.

“Why can’t we compete with them on that level at least? That has been our aim in the last couple of years in particular. As soon as we won the league and made it to Europe, it was our target.

“Europe is a massive step up. You’re going into seasoned professionals, full internationals, guys who more than likely have been in academies from very young ages. Our aim was to compete with them on a fitness basis anyway. Certainly I think we achieved that.

“With the crazy schedule we had last year which everyone knows about, we got through that, and it was a credit to the lads for their hard work and professionalism to do that.”

Byrne has questioned the theory that all players competing in England are at peak levels and uses Horgan as an example of what can be achieved in Ireland with the right approach.

The seamless transition Horgan has made when arriving at Preston illustrates what Byrne thinks can be done.

He concluded: “Sometimes in England we assume it’s the promised land, that everyone over there is super professional and players are in incredible condition. I don’t find that the case.

“To say that players come back from England, and we just assume that they are in great nick, would be false.

“Daryl has gone straight into the team with very little rest. We started training in January of last year, 13 months ago. He has not only trained all the way through, he has gone straight into the team. His talent has been able to shine.

“It’s all testament to his professionalism. All I’m trying to do is provide them with information on how to mind their body, what to eat and how to train. That’s all my job is really.

“His professionalism is incredible and his success is down to what he has done off-the-pitch to be honest. It’s down to how he looks after himself and his attitude.”

[DeLorean]

I'll give you 10/1 on a fiver that Preston will not be in the play offs.

He'd get 20/1 in the bookies

[OwlsFan]

He'd get 20/1 in the bookies

Sussshhhh.

[geysir]

He'd get 20/1 in the bookies

A Kingdom and his money are seldom parted.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Another assist for Horgan.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Scored a scrappy goal to make it 2-0.

Sheffield Wednesday losing to Aston Villa.

[SkStu]

Goal!
Posted at 40'
Goal! Preston North End 2, Reading 0. Daryl Horgan (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner following a fast break.
Posted at 40'
Attempt blocked. Daryl Horgan (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Barkhuizen.

[paul_oshea]

Ye'd think if he kept this up he might get another move up.

I'd hope that Preston wouldnt be looking to take advantage of that or hold out for a big fee given they had absolutely nothing to do with his career.

[CraftyToePoke]

Ye'd think if he kept this up he might get another move up.

I'd hope that Preston wouldnt be looking to take advantage of that or hold out for a big fee given they had absolutely nothing to do with his career.

They have got lucky dip, bonus ball, thunderball and all so far out of him, he should refuse to play soon till they put a clause in that lets him move for a pound

[DannyInvincible]

The picture quality isn't great but videos of the assist and goal here.

Assist: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5...-03-2017_sport

Goal: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5...-03-2017_sport

[paul_oshea]

"Mistake by the full back let's the winger in"

"Misunderstanding at the back creates an opportunity"

Not really giving the credit to horgan for the running and tenacity for the goal or assist.

[tetsujin1979]

Better quality footage of the goal here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5e...ading-fc_sport

[DannyInvincible]

Dave Seddon, Preston North End reporter for the Lancashire Evening News, briefly discusses Daryl Horgan in a chat with Balls.ie about Preston's Irish contingent: https://www.balls.ie/football/greg-cunningham-361132

Horgan, says Seddon, is reminiscent of the wing wizardry of which Preston's identity is hewn:

"Preston fans love their wingers, this club has a long tradition of wingers - from Sir Tom Finney, of course - and they love a winger who is pacy, and will take on the full-back. Horgan does that. He is exciting: he has scored two goals, and contributed lots."

[mark12345]

So with Horgan and Andy Boyle gone to Preston, and Roy saying at the recent Eircom League launch, that domestic players should be looking to emulate them, does anyone have an opinion on who is going to be the breakthrough players of 2017?
Patrick McElaney? Graham Burke? O'Hanlon at Pats?

[nigel-harps1954]

O'Hanlon is miles away from it. He's barely good enough for Premier Division here.

Sean Maguire is the obvious one. Paddy McEleney is quality, but not quite ready for that sort of step up yet. I don't think there's too many players in the league who would realistically be in with a shout to be honest.

[samhaydenjr]

O'Hanlon is miles away from it. He's barely good enough for Premier Division here.

Sean Maguire is the obvious one. Paddy McEleney is quality, but not quite ready for that sort of step up yet. I don't think there's too many players in the league who would realistically be in with a shout to be honest.

If we're talking about Alex O'Hanlon (as opposed to Josh) bear in mind that this is his first shot at senior professional football, so it might take him a little bit of time to adjust and settle in. After all, Sean Maguire had underwhelming spells at Sligo and Dundalk (along with Accrington) before really finding his feet at Cork City and now there are calls for him to be included in squads for the senior international side, with teammate Steven Beattie saying it's a matter of when, not if, he gets another shot in England

[Charlie Darwin]

Maguire has been playing senior ball since he was 16 though. Like Nigel said, O'Hanlon isn't even good enough to start for the worst team in the league (on form). He wouldn't be the first highly-rated guy to come back from the UK and not be able to make the grade (he wouldn't even be the first at Pats). I hope that doesn't turn out to be the case, but it's something those of us who follow the league have seen quite often.

[CraftyToePoke]

He wouldn't be the first highly-rated guy to come back from the UK and not be able to make the grade (he wouldn't even be the first at Pats). I hope that doesn't turn out to be the case, but it's something those of us who follow the league have seen quite often.

What chance a top three of such cases Charlie, in your eyes, or a top five even if you are feeling flaithulach, please.

[nigel-harps1954]

If we're talking about Alex O'Hanlon (as opposed to Josh) bear in mind that this is his first shot at senior professional football, so it might take him a little bit of time to adjust and settle in. After all, Sean Maguire had underwhelming spells at Sligo and Dundalk (along with Accrington) before really finding his feet at Cork City and now there are calls for him to be included in squads for the senior international side, with teammate Steven Beattie saying it's a matter of when, not if, he gets another shot in England

Keith Fahey was underwhelming at Arsenal and Aston Villa, but it turned out alright for him. Maguire was only a kid going over to England, and went over far too soon. Maguire is only 22, and has six years of senior football under his belt. He's also got over 50 senior goals to his name too. He's got a lot to learn yet, but he's certainly one of the brightest prospects in the league here.

I'd assumed you meant Josh O'Hanlon as he's the one with a bit more game time under his belt. You can hardly assume Alex O'Hanlon would be capable of the step to international football after 3 or 4 appearances in senior football?

What chance a top three of such cases Charlie, in your eyes, or a top five even if you are feeling flaithulach, please.

I could probably name 3 players who were highly rated youngsters in England who came back to play for Finn Harps who turned out to be brutal, never mind top three league cases.

Stephen Capper is the one that sticks out most though. He was Irish under-21 captain and looked to make a breakthrough at Sunderland in the early 00's. He played for Harps in the 2005 Premier Division season shortly after release from Sunderland, via half a season at Scarborough in the old Division 2, and was probably one of the worst players I've ever seen pull on a Harps jersey. Truly brutal. He left football altogether after a couple of seasons back in the lower leagues in England.