John Egan hopeful Adam Idah will be the spearhead for young Irish talent

John Egan on Adam Idah: “I was delighted that he got his first Irish start the other night and hopefully it's the first of many. Hopefully the young lads can keep improving and keep getting better and it only bodes well for the future of Irish football.” Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

John Egan is way too young to feel like an old man, even in sporting terms, but Adam Idah's rise from the Irish underage ranks had the 27-year old Sheffield United defender sounding like a grizzled vet ahead of tomorrow's Nations League encounter with Finland.

The Togher native, asked about Idah's senior debut against Bulgaria on Thursday night, reminisced about how he had once presented the Norwich City striker with an award when the latter was still in his early teens and banging the goals in for Corinthians in Cork.