I was a part-timer last time in Europe .. now I can scale peaks as pro
Daryl Horgan got his first taste of European football as a shop assistant by day and a player at night.
He’d love to sample it again three years on, now he’s a pro player, to see if he could get even more from the experience.
The Hibs playmaker shone in Dundalk’s 12-game tour of duty back in 2016 as they came within a goal of making the Champions League groups.
And Stephen Kenny’s parttimers ruffled some big feathers in their Europa League group, as Legia Warsaw and Zenit St Petersburg needed late goals to beat them.
Now the 26-year-old has set twin targets at Hibs – a return to the European stage and international duty with Ireland.
Horgan said: “I’d love to get back to Europe – Dundalk’s run was probably the highlight of my career.
“I loved the style of football. We had some amazing results. We beat teams that no one gave us a chance against.
“To get into the Europa groups and be competitive was unbelievable for a part-time club whose lads were working day jobs.
“To compete with Zenit and teams like that was incredible. I’d like to have an opportunity to get back to that.”
It won’t be for the want of trying. Horgan played six seasons in the League of Ireland before getting his move to Preston on the back of that colossal continental run.
He earned full-time football the hard way and his manager is convinced that fuels him to make the most of what he has now. Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom said: “You can see Daryl’s attributes and I can tell you how hard he works.
“He’s one of the first in and one of the last away.
“He wants to get back in the Ireland squad, that’s a big thing for him. He has lots of carrots dangling there to drive him on – but I don’t think he needs incentives.”
Horgan admitted: “When you’ve done other jobs you appreciate that kicking a ball around is pretty great.
“I worked in shops, summer camps – small things. But when you have the opportunity to become the best you can, for an extra couple of minutes everyday, it’s not too much.”
Horgan has six caps for the Republic of Ireland, his first in March 2017 in a win over Iceland at the Aviva.
His last one, though, was against Poland 11 months ago – and he’s determined to win back his place. He said: “I love playing for my country. I want as many caps as I can.
“I’ve been out of the last few squads which is disappointing.
“They’ve done well so it will be difficult to get back in but I will just have to play as many games as I can and hopefully get my foot in the door.
“The gaffer Mick McCarthy will be watching – but it is up to me really.”
Hibs kicked off the season with a win against St Mirren last Saturday but facing Rangers at Ibrox will be a step up.
However, the Easter Road men have had just two losses in 10 against Rangers and Horgan said: “Rangers have their own goals and own pressures.
“We have to worry about ourselves and how we’re going to enact our game plan.
“We’ll try to pick up the three points if possible.
“We’re hoping to be as high up the table as we can and these are the places you need results if you want to be up there.
“I don’t think we’re built to sit in really. We want to get on the front foot and try to pin Rangers back in
their half.”