'I presented him an award when he was 13 and he was the same size as me!': Adam Idah a prospect for impressed Egan

Macdara Ferris reports from FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown

Corkmen John Egan and Adam Idah walked out on the pitch together for the Republic of Ireland for the first time last Thursday in Sofia.

Five years ago the pair were pictured together when Egan presented 14-year-old Idah with the Cork Schoolboys League player of the year as Egan recalled when speaking to the media on Sunday.

“I know Adam a few years now as he is from Cork,” said Egan. “Back in the day he was scoring a lot of goals for Corinthians. 

“I presented him an award when he was 13 and he was the same size as me! He is a big unit. I’m delighted for him getting his first Irish start and the first of many hopefully.

“We played against each other in the Premier League this year and he put up a picture of me presenting him with the award and then me marking him. He is a really good prospect. 

“As the years have gone on I’ve become more aware of him. I knew that he is a really good player. The hard work starts for him now and it is up to him to build on this to impress in the green shirt and with his club.”

Egan was the player chosen to speak to the media on the eve of the UEFA Nations League game against Finland reflecting the importance of the player at the beginning of the Stephen Kenny era – even if Sunday’s match will be just his tenth international cap.

“The way the manager wants to play is really good and we have bought into it. You can see in training the confidence he gives the lads. The manager, Keith Andrews and Damien Duff have been brilliant with really good sessions.



"We saw the start of what we are trying to implement on Thursday. There are encouraging signs from the first game.”

Sunday’s game at the Aviva will of course be played behind-closed-doors but having played the final number of matches in similar fashion last season with his club Egan acknowledged that at this stage they are well prepared for it.

“It is going to be strange. The fans haven’t been let into the games for a while and in a sad way we are getting used to it.”

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile