Daryl Horgan has been settling into life very well at Preston North End since signing from Dundalk in January.
His fellow Dundalk-to-Preston signing Andy Boyle has also since made his debut for the English Championship club.
It's a home debut for Andy Boyle this afternoon after making his first #pnefc appearance on Tuesday night. ðŸ‘
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) March 11, 2017
Both Boyle and Horgan were rewarded with starts against Reading on Saturday afternoon and both delivered in the 3-0 win - Boyle with his role in keeping a clean sheet (and the third goal) and Horgan as an attacking outlet who provided the platform for victory.
Horgan set up Tom Barkhuizen for the opening Preston goal on 31 minutes. And Horgan turned from provider to goalscorer nine minutes later when he fired home after his initial shot was stopped.
The 24 year old has now taken his tally to two goals and three assists in 11 matches since joining the second tier club.
📸 Daryl Horgan celebrates scoring in the first-half at Deepdale. #COYW #pnefc 3-0 pic.twitter.com/TRhe8kgc71
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) March 11, 2017
With Martin O'Neill's provisional Ireland squad for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Wales to be named on Monday, Horgan is playing his way into the manager's thoughts.
In form Ireland winger Aiden McGeady, who won the Championship Player of the Month for February, was also involved for Preston, while Irish cap Greg Cunningham started at left back.
50' It's a second for Tom Barkhuizen. Boyle knocks back Horgan's free-kick at the far post and Barkhuizen fires past Al-Habsi!
#pnefc 3-0— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) March 11, 2017
Meanwhile, Championship leaders Newcastle United were on the end of an unwelcome surprise as Fulham beat them 3-1 at St James' Park.
But the Magpies' sole goalscorer of the day was Ireland forward Daryl Murphy who struck what proved to be a consolation on 76 minutes with a curling effort.
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