Preston Irish and Opposition Irish

[johnboy]

((Just did 40 minute post and then posted it and got a message about lack of security authentication and lost it - aagggggrrrhh - will try again))

Back from the front after 3 days in Preston. Flew over (3.45 am start) on Friday to Manchester (a few kids on the plane in Man City colours) and then train to Preston. Sheffield Wednesday team stayed in the same hotel which was a bonus and had a few photos taken and even got on their bus. They came down to the lounge on the Friday evening as I ate sub-standard nachos and a terrible bruschetta and they drank tea and played on their phones. Interesting that the management and their various flunkies keep their distance from the players.

Kieren Westwood: the wife (I didn't have the nerve) asked could she take the photo of the players and Westwood got all the players to stand up and he beckoned me over to join them for the photo. I told him I thought he should be starting for Ireland to which he replied "fair dues". He had a quiet game and wasn't tested much with only a couple of saves to make but he did go the wrong way for the peno.

Deepdale: Nice but soulless ground with 4 square unlinked sides. Owls’ fans sold out their end amounting to 6k of the 18k attendance. Nice to see an Alan Kelly Snr Walkway. Had the misfortune to be sitting (on my hands) in front on one of those totally myopic fans who never sees any foul by their own side and questions every referee decision which goes to the opposition. He thought referee and one lineman were from Sheffield and continued on that basis even though PNE got a penalty. His chant of “You dirty Yorkshire basta*d” to an Owls player from Argentina said it all.

Corporate: I did a corporate so I could get a ticket for the game. Interesting to see who goes to these. We were at a table for 10. While there were no prawn sandwiches in evidence (beef or chicken tikka masala), our table was me, the wife (no interest in football), a friend from way back who lives in Durham but who went to school in Preston for a year when he left Ireland (rugby man with an interest in football) and his partner (she had no interest in football). The 6 locals were very friendly even though one insisted on telling me bad Irish jokes, but they do this once a year but had no great interest in the game. So out of a table of 10, one who was genuinely bothered about the result Cost £80.00 for the privilege.

Kevin Kilbane: Kevin was one of 3 ex-PNE players introduced to us. He was not impressed when introduced by the slimy compere as a "local lad and a token Irishman". "Is that what I am now?" replied Killer in not too friendly a manner but he then went on to say how delighted he was to see so many Irish at PNE and how the League of Ireland was "very under-rated" and mentioned that Dan McDonell was at the game from the Irish Independent. I grabbed KK for a second and told him, within earshot of the compere, to pay no heed to that "sh*t" about being a token Irishman and by the way would be mind taking a selfie with me to which he obliged. Before I could go through each of his 100+ caps with him, he was wisked away to some other duty.

Seani Maguire: reminds me of Shaun Maloney – small, compact, busy and with an eye for goal. Had the only shot on target in the first half. Subbed in the second half to a standing ovation. I would worry about his lack of height in a league where physicality is often the order of the day but it looks as if he’ll be given a chance.

Alan Browne: to be honest, didn’t notice him much and was subbed also in the game.

Gregg Cunningham: On the cover of the programme and 3 page article inside under the title “Captaen na Foirne”. He is currently the captain of the side due to an injury to the existing captain. He is delighted to see the Irish at PNE and the 3rd strip is now green apparently because of the influx. He keeps an eye on Galway Utd in the LoI and is happy to welcome the competition from Kevin O’Connor (not in squad). The programme describes “the wealth of talent in the Airtricity League”. In a defence dominated game Cunningham played well.

Daryl Horgan: was an unused sub.

Post match: walked in to the city centre. First pub we stopped in had signs warning about the use of illegal drugs. Next we thought of grabbing a McDonalds but there was a man mopping some blood on the pavement outside with 8 policemen and a police dog in attendance. We got the next taxi back to the hotel.

Conclusion: nice to see KK, the Alan Kelly walkway, photo with Kieren Westwood, the lots of mentions of the Irish PNE connection, 4 Irish on the field but 0 pts for the journey was the botton line.

Cheers for this Owlsfan, interesting to get an insight into the PNE match day experience.
its a difficult one for me because I want to see the Irish do well. but I hate that Preston have sucked so match talent out of our league. Blame the system I suppose and not the beneficiary.

[Stuttgart88]

Brilliant read, thanks for that.

You do have a thing about keepers going the wrong way for pens!

Deepdale was rocking when Arsenal played there. The myopic fan experience sounds like when I was at Inchicore to see Pats v Rovers in the spring. Hilarious. My 11 y/o can now swear fluently in a Dublin accent.

KK is a legend.

[gastric]

O'Connor to make his debut for in the League Cup with Boyle and Horgan also to play. Will have to try and watch this.

[samhaydenjr]

O'Connor to make his debut for in the League Cup with Boyle and Horgan also to play. Will have to try and watch this.

Five Irish players on the pitch for Preston and they lost to Accrington Stanley. "Accrington Stanley", I hear you say, "Who are they?" Exactly.

[OwlsFan]

Five Irish players on the pitch for Preston and they lost to Accrington Stanley. "Accrington Stanley", I hear you say, "Who are they?" Exactly.

One of the first league clubs to go out of existence in my lifetime and then do a Lazarus: that's who they are

[Stuttgart88]

Every kid who bought Shoot! or Roy of the Rovers in the late 70s or earl 80s will have known that!

[DeLorean]

I once had my letter to Jimmy Greaves published in Shoot. Got a cheque for £5 (sterling) too as a reward! Match was better for the posters though.

[OwlsFan]

I once had my letter to Jimmy Greaves published in Shoot. Got a cheque for £5 (sterling) too as a reward! Match was better for the posters though.

I got one as well for a cartoon I sent in. The player says to the referee: "That's the second time you've asked for my name. Here's my card". I thought it was hilarious (AT THE TIME).

Every kid who bought Shoot! or Roy of the Rovers in the late 70s or earl 80s will have known that!

I subscribed to TIGER which included Roy playing for Melchester Rovers with his side-kick, Blackie Gray, and the goalie Tubby Morton (all keepers in those days were somewhat overweight). Whenever Rovers played a foreign team, the opposition were cheats.

[DeLorean]

Another goal for Maguire today but Preston go down 3-2 at home to Brentford, Egan with an assist for them. Horgan replaced Maguire with thirteen minutes left. Boyle and O'Connor unused subs with Browne and Cunningham both unavailable.

[Olé Olé]

On my phone so can't send a link but it's on balls.ie for anyone who wants to see it. And I suggest you do. Absolutely wonderful goal. Ran almost half the field and shower serious composure. I'll get across to the PNE forum where I'm certain they're raving about it, in spite of the loss.

4 goals and it's only October. Double figures, here comes Seani.

[DannyInvincible]

Andy Boyle, Kevin O'Connor and Alan Browne all started for Preston tonight at home to Bolton. 0-0 at half-time.

Callum Robinson, who is eligible for Ireland, is also playing up front.

[DannyInvincible]

The game ended 0-0 with Boyle and O'Connor playing the full 90 minutes. Boyle picked up a late booking and Browne was substituted after 82 minutes. Daryl Horgan came on for Callum Robinson after 68 minutes.

[tetsujin1979]

Four Irish players on the bench for Preston today - Kevin O'Connor, Daryl Horgan, Alan Browne and Andy Boyle

[DeLorean]

Cunningham and Horgan started Preston's excellent win at Cardiff tonight, playing 84 and 69 minutes respectively. Both had departed by the time Tom Clarke hit the only goal of the game right at the end. Browne played the full ninety, Pilkington was an unused sub for Cardiff.

[samhaydenjr]

No Irish players started for Preston today with four on the bench including, somewhat oddly, both Irish full-backs (Cunningham and O'Connor). Only Daryl Horgan got any gametime, coming on with twelve minutes left. http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42475350 Meanwhile Middlesbrough started their two Irish internationals, Randolph playing the full 90 and Christie coming off after an hour. Result? Preston 2 - 3 Middlesbrough. I hope you've learned your lesson, Alex Neil

[nigel-harps1954]

The squad rotation policy at Preston must be infuriating for their fans. No rhythm can really be achieved while the first eleven and even the bench constantly changes to such an extent.

They'd probably have a squad capable of at least a playoff place if they found a bit of balance.

[Olé Olé]

Preston away to Wycombe in the FA Cup today. Horgan, Browne and Cunningham all start with Boyle and O'Connor on the bench.

Browne and Cunningham are likely to feature heavily between now and the end of the season. Hopefully Horgan can translate his recent opportunities in the first team into a long-term berth. Preston's new signing, Billy Bodin, is also starting and he is generally a winger. Callum Robinson looks to be the number 9, although I don't think he generally plays that role. Horgan needs to impress with both these lads on the pitch and Barkhuizen and Hugill not starting (Hugll not in the squad).

EDIT: They're one up already, Josh Harrop.

[Olé Olé]

Horgan and Browne both on scoresheet now. 3-1.

[Olé Olé]

Browne again. 4-1.

[DeLorean]

Horgan's was an own goal really, can't see how he'd be credited with it. Browne's first was a cracker - https://twitter.com/PNEPhotos/status/949741623616921600