Conor Hourihane: 'All of a sudden I’m going to Anfield as head coach of Barnsley'

At just 34, the salutary tales from his playing career have chiselled Conor Hourihane into a permanent manager.

ANFIELD BOUND: Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane before the Carabao Cup tie with Brighton & Hove Albion. Pic: George Wood/Getty Images.

When You’ll Never Walk Alone rings out around Anfield on Monday night, Conor Hourihane might finally get an opportunity to absorb how far he’s come.

The youngster from Bandon was tipped to revel at Sunderland and Ipswich Town, both under Roy Keane, but it wasn’t until he dropped into the fourth tier at Plymouth Argyle at 20 that his career gradually took flight.

That eventually got him to the Premier League with Aston Villa at 28, completing a snakes and ladders journey through the pyramid.

Six years later at 34 and the salutary tales from his playing career have chiselled him into a permanent manager.

Barnsley are considered one of the bigger clubs in League One, playing out of 23,287-capacity Oakwell that staged Premier League football in 1998, but they’re middling in terms of financial firepower.

Appointed interim in March, upgraded to full-time in April, Hourihane is expected to better last season’s mid-table finish in spite of the budgetary constraints.

Such is the erratic nature of the 46-game marathon that the Tykes have oscillated either side of that position throughout this season.

Monday’s FA Cup trip to Anfield presents a breather, an opportunity for the youthful manager and players to test themselves against the Premier League champions.

Hourihane’s only experience prior to Barnsley was a brief stint shadowing at Stourbridge in the Southern League and tutoring the Under-16s at his former club, Villa.

“I haven’t had a chance to stop, to be blunt about it,” the former Ireland midfielder Hourihane said about the relentlessness of his trajectory.

“It all flashes by before your eyes quickly. I’ve gone from retiring as a player just over a year ago to assistant, then interim and permanent.

“All of a sudden I’m going to Anfield as head coach of Barnsley.

"It’s something I’ll look back on over the next period, whether that’s the summer or what not.

“I was planning for coaching in the last few years of my playing career but it accelerated quicker than planned. However, I was ready to hit it head on if it came along.

“I lost a bit of fire towards the end of my playing career but my fire to be a successful head coach over the next 10 to 15 years is burning brightly.

“I’ve a huge passion for the game - I’m obsessed with it - and hopefully I’ll have a decent crack at it.” 

Keane’s obsession with standards has rubbed off on his protégé. Hourihane only sees his fellow Leesider from a distance these days but the influence is there is the discipline he espouses on and off the pitch.

“Roy is very busy and I’m not sure if he’s keeping an eye on me,” says Hourihane. “I’m watching him from afar weekly on the podcast. He’s an unbelievable man, personality and viewing.

“I still have fond memories of Roy, from working with him as Ireland manager and at different clubs. He gave me the opportunity of coming to Sunderland at 16. I’d unbelievable memories of him as a Manchester United fan growing up when he was captain.

“It was special getting to know him over the years. To have someone like that, and a fellow Corkman, is pretty nice.” 

There’s also the business side of management to learn. Neil Farrugia looked destined to hit the ground running when recruited from Shamrock Rovers this time last year.

Another Irishman, Eoghan O’Connell, has joined this week on a free transfer, having seen his part in Wrexham’s ascent curtailed. Every movement of personnel, in or out, forms part of the judgement sheet.

“From a financial perspective, we’re not going to blitz the league and overpower rivals,” he said of Barnsley’s place in the pecking order.

“We’re trying to wheel and deal to make us as strong as possible. Our fans know we’re a big club for this level. That won’t change but there must be an understanding that we're not blessed with the biggest of budgets.

“It will take time. We want to build step by step. That’s why we made a plan in the summer to go with younger players, sign exciting players to hold the mantle of the club for a longer time.

“What’s really important is that players who we’re looking to sign in the window can see how we’re giving the likes of Patrick Kelly, Reyes Cleary and Jonathan Bland the platform to play and express themselves to enhance their careers."

Farrugia hasn’t matched those tyros, starting just one league game for his compatriot.

“It’s been difficult for Neil to adapt to this level,” he said. “He’s had a couple of injuries that set him back in a certain period.

“He’s done really well in a couple of Cup games but in others found the level more challenging.

“But Neil has found consistency a challenge. What I would say is there’s definitely a lot of ability in him. He trains well a lot of the time. You always look at him thinking that this lad has got something.

“He’s found getting regular minutes to be hard and difficult. For the time being, he’s in our plans but knows that his minutes are currently limited.”

Farrugia can take inspiration from his manager that no limits need apply in football.