Daryl Horgan made his first start for Ireland on Thursday night as Martin O'Neill's side went down 3-1 to Mexico in New Jersey. The Preston winger started in an unfamiliar central midfield role as O'Neill experimented with a 3-5-2 formation ahead.
It has been a rapid rise to prominence for the Galway man following his stellar performances for Dundalk in last season's Europa League group stages.
In November, he and Andy Boyle received their first call-ups to the Ireland senior squad for the qualifier against Austria. That was followed by a move to Preston in January and his Ireland debut against Iceland in March.
In a video for Three, Horgan spoke about his journey over this season.
Horgan was in Russia with Dundalk when he discovered, via a text from his cousin, that he had been called up for the game against Austria.
Standing in a lift while on Ireland duty for the first time, he and Andy Boyle were told by Roy Keane that they were in the squad on merit. Seamus Coleman would knock on their room door later that night to reiterate the same point.
Was great to see Daryl Horgan get his first start for ?? last night.
What a journey it's been for the former #LOI star ? #TheCallUp pic.twitter.com/vdRZTs95PE— Three Ireland News (@ThreeIreland) June 2, 2017
