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Shining Cross Channel

Two Irish players achieved milestones in action in the Championship yesterday

Big day for Galway’s Greg Cunningham and Cork’s Alan Browne.

pjimage (5) It was a landmark game for Alan Browne and Greg Cunningham yesterday. PA PA

THE IRISH PRESENCE at Preston North End became more sizeable when Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle completed their switch from Dundalk in December.

But for two of the players already based at Deepdale, yesterday’s Championship game against Burton Albion saw them achieve appearance milestones.

Galway native Greg Cunningham made his 200th appearance in English league football during the 1-0 win while Cork’s Alan Browne lined out for Preston for the 100th time.

“I feel privileged to make my 100th appearance for such a great club and I’d like to thank the manager,” Browne told the official Preston website after the victory that lifted them into the top half of the table.

“He’s been great with me and I feel like I have come on a lot game by game as a player, both on and off the field and it’s a great achievement for me.”

Dubliner Eoin Doyle also lined out for Preston yesterday with Aiden McGeady coming on as a substitute in the closing stages.

They weren’t the only Irish players celebrating in the Championship yesterday with Conor Hourihane scoring a stunning winner for Barnsley and Liam Kelly bagging his first senior goal for Reading.

Preston’s new Irish captures – Horgan and Boyle – were not part of yesterday’s matchday squad, having only been eligible to play for the club since 1 January.

A dream debut would be in next Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie at home to Arsenal but Boyle did at least have a role to play for the club at yesterday’s game.

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