CORK YOUNGSTER ADAM O’Reilly got his first taste of competitive senior football this afternoon as Preston North End came from behind to earn a draw against Aston Villa.
Tammy Abraham gave Villa the lead at Deepdale on the stroke of half-time in the Championship encounter, before the hosts levelled through an own goal from Ahmed El Mohamady.
O’Reilly benefitted from the injury absence of fellow Ringmahon Rangers graduate Alan Browne by being included in the matchday squad, something he achieved for the first time in a game against Wolves back in February.
However, the 17-year-old midfielder was sprung from the bench for the first time this afternoon, replacing compatriot Graham Burke in the closing stages of the game.
🙌 Congratulations to @pnefcacademy pair @Adam_o_reilly and @Ethanwalker_7 on making their first team debuts this afternoon! 👏 #pnefc pic.twitter.com/VPckeGfDzJ
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) December 29, 2018
O’Reilly, whose father Kieran was a League of Ireland First Division winner with Cobh Ramblers in 2007, was a member of the Republic of Ireland U17 squad who reached the European Championship quarter-finals earlier this year.
Elsewhere today in the Championship, Irish international striker David McGoldrick continued his good goalscoring form by netting for Sheffield United in their 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.
Former Dundalk midfielder Richie Towell was sent off in Rotherham United’s 1-0 loss to Bristol City.
Championship
Birmingham City 0-0 Brentford
Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Stoke City
Bristol City 1-0 Rotherham United
Leeds United 0-2 Hull City
Middlesbrough 2-0 Ipswich Town
Millwall 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Norwich City 3-4 Derby County
Preston North End 1-1 Aston Villa
Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Reading
Sheffield United 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
Swansea City 2-2 Wigan Athletic
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
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I thought he done very well last night. He actually scored his first Ireland goal Vs Celtic in Scott Brown’s testimonial and the way Mick spoke about him last night he could well be promoted.
Cullen got man of the match but I thought Browne was the real MVP. His control of the ball, slowing down the game and giving himself time for an option to open up was another level to the rest of the team.
Don’t get me wrong, a few players impressed me last night, with Byrne, Long, Collins and Cullen getting all the credit but Browne deserves some too.
Would love to see him get a move out of Preston.
@Baz Harkin: Only matter of time before premier league clubs start taking an interest, top midfielder.Should be in ahead of Hourihan and Hendrick. Always seems to do the simple things right and be in the right place, just like a fellow Cork midfielder did a few years ago, but we better not talk about him for a while though!
@Baz Harkin: As a lover of PNE..I WOULD NOT!!!
Browne would walk into most midfield in the bottom half of the Premier league. So many foreign managers these days though bringing in speed demons from Africa/Germany/Brazil/France etc that it’s getting harder and harder to get the big break.
@Stanley Baggins: hence why Irish footballers need to start looking further afield and taking opportunities on the continent. Even English footballers are starting to do that more and more.
Browne should have more caps than he has. I know he’s been unlucky with injuries but his form was largely ignored by O Neill. Hopefully he gets back into the Preston team and pushes for a place with the national side. We’re not blessed with guys who can score from midfield and he certainly can if he’s played in the right position.