IRELAND STRIKER GRAHAM Burke sealed a 3-1 win for Preston North End tonight in their League Cup encounter against Morecambe, as his star continues to rise since his move back across the water.
The former Shamrock Rovers star impressed throughout at Deepdale and added to Manchester City loanee Brandon Barker and Louis Moult’s previous efforts to put the gloss on their win with 58 minutes on the clock.
It was Moult who turned provider that time around, squaring the ball to Burke who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.
He then capped a successful opening few weeks at the Championship side as he was named man-of-the-match.
Tonight comes as another impressive full competitive debut for the Dubliner, who also scored on his first start for Shamrock Rovers and for Ireland.
90+1' This evening's @GeorgeBanks1935 man of the match is Graham Burke on his competitive home debut! 👏#pnefc 3-1 pic.twitter.com/tfrxnMMYo7
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) August 14, 2018
He’s caught the eye since making the switch, praised for his partnership up top with Sean Maguire — who’s now out injured — in pre-season friendlies, while he scored on his first outing against Bamber Bridge.
“It was great to get the win and to top off my home debut with a goal was a great feeling,” he told the media after.
Ireland U17 international Adam O’Reilly was also named on the Lilywhites’ bench tonight.
Elsewhere in the League Cup, another promising Irish youngster Jake Doyle-Hayes started for Aston Villa and looked good, while Conor Hourihane was their hero with a crucial 77th-minute strike to send them past Yeovil.
.@ConorHourihane's first goal of the 18/19 season ⚽️ #avfc pic.twitter.com/KHL2ygK9A2
— thevillazone (@thevillazone) August 14, 2018
Glen Whelan completed an all-Irish midfield for Steve Bruce’s charges.
- This article was updated to correct Adam O’Reilly’s surname.
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