VIDEO: Hourihane starts second game for Ireland but can't prevent friendly loss to Mexico

BY KIERAN McCARTHY

BANDON’S Conor Hourihane made his second start for the Republic of Ireland senior team in their 3-1 international friendly loss to Mexico in New York in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Aston Villa man (26) started in midfield in a 3-5-2 formation experimented with by manager Martin O’Neill and it was a tough shift for the West Cork man as he was the only man in green offering protection to the Irish defence.

Hourihane came close to his first senior international goal when a curling left foot effort at the end of the first half was narrowly wide.

The Old Chapel, Bandon native was replaced on 64 minutes by Eunan O’Kane.

This was Hourihane’s second cap for Ireland, having also started the friendly defeat to Iceland at the Aviva in March.

43: CHANCE!
Conor Hourihane goes close from the edge of the area with a good strike! #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/3SA54a1Ruo

— eirSport (@eirSport) June 2, 2017