FORMER ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC and Cork City manager Pat Dolan has described Sean Maguire’s inability to receive a call-up to the Irish senior international set-up as “appalling”.
Dolan was speaking after Cork’s dramatic 4-2 victory over Levadia Tallinn in their Europa League first round qualifier in which Maguire scored a sensational hat-trick which earned him the accolade of the club’s top goalscorer in European competition.
Maguire’s form this season has seen some quarters name him among the greatest players in the club’s history, with this Thursday’s second round first leg game against AEK Larnaca being his last ever home appearance before his transfer to Preston North End.
“Forwards are so important”, said Dolan, who managed Cork between 2003 and 2005, when speaking to Cork’s 96fm
“We had John O’Flynn and George O’Callaghan who were just sensational. Roy O’Donovan and Denis Behan, guys like that. But also guys like Kevin Doyle and Shane Long who went on to become internationals – they were all sensational players.
“But what I like about Seanie is that he has got that Waterford blood in his veins and that he has had so many disappointments.
“Dundalk released him and you’re thinking where does he go from there? He had been to England and was released. Comes back home, he goes to Dundalk and can’t get in that side and is left out. But what does he do? He comes back into the Cup final (in 2016) and scores the winning goal!
“Of course he a great goalscorer, of course he should be capped by our country. For him to have had this season so far and for us to be so many points clear at the top of the table and not to have gotten an international cap under Martin O’Neill – well, for me that’s just appalling.
“I don’t know whether Martin was here tonight or whether Roy was here tonight. But when you see a guy who already has his deal done to go to England and has not pulled out of one tackle… Since he signed his deal, his performances have been extraordinary.
“And on a massive, massive European night, for him to come up with those goals… pure and simple class.
Addressing the player directly, Dolan explained that the 23-year-old had a big career ahead of him in the Championship at Preston, and joked that he would get his international cap one day, whether under O’Neill or a different manager in charge.
“Seanie, you’re going to be a big loss but people like you deserve to succeed. And you know what? It won’t be long until you get that cap that you’ve earned”, said Dolan.
“And my goodness me it won’t be long before Johnny Caulfield will be the manager of Ireland, so when he is the manager you’ll definitely get your cap.”
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