'Tommy deserves an Ireland call': Waterford boss hails prolific Lonergan

Tommy Lonergan of Waterford after the FAI Cup semi-final. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Booming Waterford boss Graham Coughlan reckons his sharpshooter Tommy Lonergan is worthy of a senior Ireland call-up.

The striker followed up his brace in Ireland’s U21s win over England on Tuesday by grabbing the second as the Blues beat Bohs 2-0 in Friday’s FAI Cup semi-final.

Overall, the 22-year-old has collected 16 goals for Waterford and another four in the colours of his country’s U21s, leading them to a Euro playoff showdown against Finland next month.

Yet Coughlan, who steered Waterford off the bottom of the table and into their first Blue Riband final for 22 years since taking over in May, believes the seniors is his deserved stage.

Heimir Hallgrímsson’s team have their final pair of Uefa Nations League games in that same window, away to Austria on November 14 followed by Kosovo at Lansdowne Road three days later.

Lonergan, who spent a brief spell at the Blues’ mothership of Fleetwood Town, has already attracted renewed cross-channel interest from suitors, including Leeds United.

“I think Tommy should be called up into the senior team because he's unique,” declared Coughlan after Friday’s smash-and-grab victory at Dalymount, clinched for two goals in the space of seven minutes.

“He has that edge as well. We don't have players like that in the senior team and he should be given an opportunity and a chance because he leads the line exceptionally well.

“That will only benefit him and that will help his growth.

“It will not only help his growth but it will help our national team as well.”

The Blues boss confessed he couldn’t bring himself to watch the concluding U21 fixture on Tuesday in Turner’s Cross for fear of his star striker getting injured. As it transpired, his pair of goals were central to slaying Lee Carsley’s star-studded outfit.

“I was half thinking about going down to Cork on Tuesday night, and I actually rang him on Tuesday and told him that when you get your customary goal or two, Tommy, go down with cramp,” he said with a grin.

“I don't care if that's in the first five or ten minutes, just go down with cramp and get off the pitch.

“I didn't even watch the game on Tuesday night. I absolutely had my hands over my eyes.

“Our media guy rang me with information that he'd come off the pitch to a standing ovation. He’s got two goals, was fine and injury free.

“So straight away I'm ringing Tommy. He must have been in the shower when I was ringing him, I couldn't even let him off the pitch.” 

Coughlan will allow his players a weekend of celebration before they resume their battle to avoid the drop.

A 5-1 defeat to Shelbourne on Friday confirmed automatic relegation Sligo Rovers, while Waterford are level on points with Drogheda for the playoff spot but with a game in hand.

Thoughts of the FAI Cup final at Lansdowne Road on November 8, against either Galway or Derry, will be parked.

“The next four weeks here are about trying to survive and trying to secure our Premier League status,” he added.

“That was my objective coming through the front door and that will be our objective over the next four weeks.

“We must enjoy this win, and the manner of it, having been under the cosh in the first half, because you need some luck in football. The harder you work, the luckier you get.

“Our players went through a tough time the first couple of months of the season when people doubted them and said negative things.

“This group stuck together, showed character and resilience, but we’ve still work to do in the league. That starts again next Friday back at Bohemians, who themselves are going for the title.”