CONOR HOURIHANE HAS BEEN earning plenty of plaudits for his displays at Barnsley this season and this morning was named Championship Player of the Month.
The Cork-born midfielder scored two goals and created three assists for the newly-promoted Tykes, who sit third in the table thanks to three wins and two defeats from their opening five matches.
25-year-old Hourihane spent time under Roy Keane at Sunderland and Ipswich Town before establishing himself with Plymouth Argyle.
He joined Barnsley in 2014 and has since earned a reputation as one of the finest midfielders outside England’s top flight.
A former Ireland U21 international, he has been watched by Martin O’Neill in recent times and must surely be looking at a first call-up to the senior squad if he continues his current form.
“It’s fantastic to get recognition, especially at Championship level,” said Hourihane. “We’ve all had a good start as a team and I hope we can keep it up.
It’s nice to receive an award like this and it just gives me more motivation to try and win another, but I would be just as happy if one of my teammates won one as well.”
Check out Hourihane’s fabulous free-kick against QPR (38 seconds in):
Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom added: “Although he’s stepped up a league, Conor’s performances have continued to improve and it shows the strides he’s making.
“It’s fully-deserved and hopefully now if he keeps this run of form going and reproduces it in the next month he’ll be pushing for an international call-up.”
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