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Football

15th Sep 2016

Irish defender’s late equaliser sparks revolt at Villa Park

He's doing really well

Patrick McCarry

While many in Ireland are keeping an eye on Brentford for news of Alan Judge’s comeback or whether striker Scott Hogan declares for Martin O’Neill’s men, John Egan is proving hard to ignore.

Eight games into his career with the Championship side and Egan is flying.

Egan, son of former Kerry GAA legend John Egan (Senior), is doing a sterling job in the Brentford defence but keeps getting up the pitch to contribute.

He has had six pops at goal and has been rewarded for it with three goals. Jeff Stelling nicknamed him ‘Johnny on the Spot’ when he scored a double against Ipswich Town.

Last night, he was at it again.

With his team trailing 1-0 and the game hurtling towards injury time, Egan got up for a set-piece and was not leaving the box without a goal. When the ball broke to him, he put it past Pierluigi Gollini in the Villa goal.

It sparked scenes of bedlam in the away section and led to a revolt, in the immediate aftermath and on the final whistle, from the despairing Villa… faithful.

Villa coach Roberto di Matteo can understand the frustration of the Villa fans as the club lie in 17th. “We just need to win,” he told the BBC. “Win ugly, or attractive. It doesn’t matter.”

Speaking to the Brentford FC website, after the game, a delighted Egan remarked:

“When the ball hit the back of the net I just turned to the fans immediately because I could see how buzzing they were.

“I would probably have got in the mix with the fans but there were a few bouncers who wouldn’t let me through.”

This lad will go far.

Listen to The GAA Hour live in Castlebar with Brendan Devenney, James Horan, and Pillar Caffrey. Subscribe here on iTunes.

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