Conor’s fast start catches the eye

Corkman Conor Hourihane has admitted that life at Barnsley couldn’t have started any better after he was named League One’s player of the month for August.

Hourihane, 23, only stepped up into League One this season after a summer switch to Danny Wilson’s side from Plymouth Argyle. But the former Republic of Ireland U21 international has taken the move in his stride with goals against Coventry City, Gillingham and Yeovil Town.

“It was great for Barnsley to come and get me. I met Danny and I felt like it was the right move for myself,” he said.

“To start off with the player of the month award, it’s very pleasing for me. But hopefully we can continue that and have a very good year.

“In the last three years I have played nearly every game at Plymouth. Even though I am only 23, I feel like I have played quite a few games in the league.

“I have enjoyed myself in League One and I’m looking forward to the year ahead. To get off to a good start makes you more hungry to perform and achieve more.

“I’m delighted to win the award and to get off to such a good start. Barnsley have put a lot of faith in me by going and getting me in the summer so I’m really pleased to have put in some good performances and hopefully there are many more to come.”

Hourihane is hoping to stay on the goal trail and added: “Probably the one against Yeovil was my favourite one. There was a nice bit of play before it, so that’s probably my favourite out of the three.

“I do seem to be on a run where everything I hit does seem to be going in, but maybe I should be looking for a few six-yard tap-ins now!”

Barnsley are amongst the early-season pacesetters in League One and Hourihane added: “We got off to a bit of a slow start in the first game and in the cup against Crewe, but since then we haven’t lost a game, we have gone on a nice little run of form and the team looks settled.

“It is definitely a good group. There are a couple of lads who were here last year, but there has been a big turnover in players. I think there is a good team there to go forward.

“If we continue our form over the season, I don’t think we’ll be far away.”