What a difference two months makeS. On the 6th of November Daryl Horgan collected a runners-up medal from the FAI Cup final. Plenty of League of Ireland fans predicted it'd be the last time we see Horgan in a Dundalk shirt. He's destined for a major move and will surely be playing in England in January
Fast forward to tonight. Preston are locked together with Arsenal in a real battle. With fifteen minutes to go, it's 1-1 and Simon Grayson has one change left to make. Enter Daryl Horgan.
The Galway man came on for his Preston debut earlier tonight, exciting Irish fans everywhere. He had a couple of nice touches, whipped two dangerous balls in and looked good as the Lilywhites harried the Premier League side in search of a winner.
Ultimately, the debut would end in defeat after Lucas Perez's backheel set up Olivier Giroud for another late goal. But Preston fans reacted well to the winger's short cameo, going by social media anyway.
DARYL
DARYL
DARYL— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) January 7, 2017
75' Final change for PNE as Daniel Johnson makes way for Daryl Horgan who makes his North End debut! #pnefc 1-1
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) January 7, 2017
Daryl Horgan is on. 10 to go in a drawn FA Cup tie with Arsenal and he's sent in. Simon Grayson wasn't lying when he said he'd get chances.
— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) January 7, 2017
Daryl Horgan on now too. Looking the part already too... https://t.co/bpdINJ8SPm
— Peter McNamara (@PeterMcNamara_) January 7, 2017
Horgan could do a job here #PNEvAFC #EmiratesFACup
— Denis Moran (@DenisMoran1) January 7, 2017
Hope Horgan gets some time with the Irish during WCQ. Looking decent in the few minutes he's been on for PNE
— David Schwall (@Schwallsteiger) January 7, 2017
Daryl Horgan looked very good. #PNE #PNEvAFC
— JJ Devaney (@JJDevaney) January 7, 2017
Daryl Horgan did not look out of place....hope he starts seeing some more game time at Deepdale now
— Mike Lillis (@mikejlillis) January 7, 2017
McGeady, horgan and cunningham all involved in one Preston attack. Eoin Doyle also on bench..big Irish contingent over there
— YBIG (@YouBoysInGreen) January 7, 2017
Like the look of Horgan. Quick feet. McGeady mk2? #pnefc
— Sean Taylor (@SeanTay91) January 7, 2017
Preston's next game is in the Championship next Saturday. Their opposition - Brighton. Featuring Horgan's ex-teammate at Dundalk in Richie Towell. Towell managed 90 minutes for the first time in a Brighton shirt during their victory over the MK Dons. Could we see arguably the two best League of Ireland players in the last five years go head to head?
Well, Simon Grayson seemed pretty pleased when signing Horgan, promising him plenty of chances. Preston are currently 11th in the table, but the madness of the Championship means that they are only six points off a playoff place.
Plus, Ireland have a couple of key World Cup qualifiers in the spring. We're not getting ahead of ourselves, but a few more appearances like this one will help Horgan's cause.
As good as he was, however, he was outshone by Aiden McGeady.
