IRELAND INTERNATIONAL CONOR Hourihane has begun the new season promisingly, scoring a hat-trick in Aston Villa’s 4-1 friendly win over Walsall at the Bescot Stadium.
The Cork native, who scored 11 goals as part of a Villa side that narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season, looked sharp against the League One side.
The first goal had an element of good fortune, as his volley from inside the box took a wicked deflection.
The former Barnsley star’s second was a beautifully struck curled effort from about 25 yards out.
Hourihane’s third was similarly fortuitous to the first, as Henri Lansbury’s shot from distance was diverted in off the Irish midfielder.
Dubliner Glenn Whelan also got on the scoresheet with a clincal finish shortly before half-time, while Jon Guthrie got a second-half consolation for the hosts.
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