Cork native John Egan makes sensational two-goal Brentford debut
The 23-year-old centre-back scored twice in eight minutes on his Griffin Park bow after a summer move from Gillingham.
Egan, highly rated at Sunderland in the Premier League as a teenager, is on the way back after seeing his fledgling career devastated by a badly broken leg.
And he paid tribute to mum Mary watching in the stands, who won a League of Ireland medal as a player. Egan’s late father was, of course, the Kerry football legend of the same name.
After Brentford’s first home win over Ipswich for 61 years Egan said: “Dad was a Gaelic footballer – but it was my mum Mary that played soccer.
“She was in the crowd and hopefully very proud. We planned to celebrate with a good feast of steak. She was a tough-tackling full-back herself - and she won a League of Ireland medal playing for Cork Rangers, so she had a great little soccer career.
“As a home debut for Brentford in the Championship it really couldn’t have gone any better – we got the win, and a clean sheet. And to get the two goals was brilliant. I do feel like I can notch a goal or two going up for corners, but this was special.
“It is definitely a big season for me in my career. I need to come here and play well for Brentford and show what I am about There is real competition for places at centre back here, when I get the chance to play, I must make sure I play well.
“The injury was very tough, it was bad leg break, I had gone on loan and done well – and you question if you will ever play again. But once I had my mind right that goes out the window.
” Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich looked the more dangerous side in the first half – but imploded after the break. And Egan first powerfully headed in Lewis Macleod’s corner, and then expertly tucked away a rebound after Bartosz Bialkowski saved Nico Yennaris’s drive.
Bentley 6; Colin 6 (Saunders 67th, 6), Dean 7, Egan 9, Elder 7; Yennaris 7 (McEachran 90), Woods 7; Clarke 6, Sawyers 6, Macleod 7 (Kerschbaumer 90); Hogan 7.
Bialkowlski 6; Chambers 5, Berra 5, Webster 5, Knudsen 5; Ward 6, Skuse 6, Bru 6 (Douglas 78), Grant 6 (Bishop 65); Sears 5, Murphy 6. Booked: Webster.
John Egan.
Stephen Martin.
