'A special moment': But no winning finale for Conor Hourihane at Barnsley FC
Conor Hourihane’s emotional farewell to life as Barnsley manager did not get the happy ending he hoped as Stockport County cemented their place in the play-offs and a third-place finish.
After Adama Sidibeh’s first-half opener for Stockport, County keeper Corey Addai made a wonder save to deny Adam Phillips from close range, but Corey O’Keeffe crossed the ball back into the box for the midfielder, who levelled for the Reds in the 53rd minute.
But Oliver Norwood scored from the penalty spot after the break and Benony Andresson sealed the victory for Stockport in second-half stoppage-time.
It was Hourihane’s last game in charge after he and Barnsley decided to go their separate ways at the end of the season last month.
It was Conor Hourihane’s last game in charge of Barnsley and he admitted it was an emotional one.
The first joined the Reds in 2014 as a player and spent three years at the club before moving to Aston Villa. He returned to Oakwell in 2024 as a player-coach and took over as head coach last season.
After finishing the season in 15th place, he said: “It was obviously very, very emotional. A lot of fans stayed behind, which I’m very, very thankful for.
“They’ve had not as much to shout for this season as what they would like.
“It was a special moment going around with my kids and my family standing on the side.
“I would like to have gone around with something in the bag in terms of points return, but it wasn’t to be.”
Barnsley: Flavell, O'Keeffe, Durand de Gevigney (Roberts 72), O'Connell, Earl, Bland (Banks 82), Connell (Nwakali 82), Phillips (Lennon 64), Kelly, Cleary, Bradshaw (Farrell 72). Unused substitutes: Goodman, Gent.
Stockport County: Addai, Dacres-Cogley (Dixon 81), Wootton, Pye, Edun, Bailey (Che Gardner 90), Norwood, Stokes (Fiorini 81), Osborn, Sidibeh (Olaofe 73), Barry (Andresson 73). Unused substitutes: Hinchliffe, Mothersille.
Referee: S Stockbridge (Tyne & Wear).