Sean Maguire is on fire.
When Preston North End took the lead after 50 minutes of their clash with Sunderland, Irish eyes lit up. That's because nearly every time they have scored in the last few weeks, it has come from the boot or the head of Sean Maguire.
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It was the same story on Saturday, just a different day. The 23-year-old former Cork City front man is in the peak of his powers at the moment. He's turning in top class displays week after week in the Championship, earning himself the billing as one of the league's best players.
With the teams deadlocked and nothing between them, Maguire was the difference. He turned the game on its head, he was the difference.
This is exciting for Republic of Ireland supporters at a time when reasons to get excited are too few and too far between. Maguire suffered a cruel injury setback just before that infamous beating we took at the hands of Denmark that ended our World Cup qualification dreams and sent a nation into depression.
He served his time, spending almost three months on the sidelines and he made his return to the fray for his club less than three weeks ago. In the space of those three weeks, he's played in seven games. Three of those appearances have come from the bench but the Luton born sizzler has still managed to score in each and every one of them.
His goal to minutes ratio must be one of the best in English football. He now has nine goals and three assists to his name for the season.
Watch him play, however and it's easy to see why he's racking up such goals and earning such hype. With his lightening pace, he terrorises defenders. With his clever movement, he sets up the chances.
With his deadly finishing he takes the chances and leads us to believe that he is the man to fill the boots left by Robbie Keane.
