Barnsley v Mansfield Town: Why early-riser Conor Hourihane will never change

It was in this very fixture on the opening night of the 2024-25 season where the Reds favourite made his ‘debut’, second time around, in the EFL's seasonal opener at Oakwell.

In the reverse fixture in March, Hourihane stepped out to take charge of Barnsley for the first time, then on an interim basis, after being handed the reins for the final 10 games of the league season at short notice.

Ahead of that date, he was a man in a hurry.

Away at St George's Park as part of his League Managers Association diploma studies course, the Irishman was invited to step up from coach following the dismissal of Darrell Clarke on Wednesday, March 12.

He promptly left the Midlands and started preparations for his first game, working into the early hours of the next day before addressing the press that Thursday morning.

Ten and a half months into management, the 34-year-old's intensity remains. An urge to delegate has not crept in, he is still as hands-on as he was in early spring.

He said: "I'm still in at the crack of dawn. I had a phone call (on Tuesday) at six in the morning with someone at the club, and they were like: 'You're on your way in?'. And I replied: 'Yes, I am on my way in because I've got work to do.'

"It's really important to put the hours in. And after a loss or a win, it's still the same.

"It's not like I was in at six in the morning just because we lost (at Exeter last time out). It's just part of my remit.

"I'm very, very fortunate that it's ingrained in me to work hard. I got it from my mum and dad over the years.

"They were early morning risers, constantly working. And that's something that's just within me.

"If I woke up tomorrow and won the 'Lotto', would it be ingrained in me then? I'd probably say yes because, honestly, I just love working.

"Whether it's head coach roles or being a dad when I go home, it's just ingrained with me. I'm very fortunate because not everybody has this. When you've got that hard work ethic about you, it sends you in such good stead."

Last Christmas and New Year proved rewarding for the Reds, who won all their holiday fixtures to boost their top-six hopes. It proved a false dawn, sadly.

In a very similar position to 12 months ago, Barnsley are now assigned with putting their foot on the gas again and finding some added consistency. In Hourihane's eyes, it's also time for his senior heads to step up on a more regular basis.

He added: "We ask so much of the young lads we have because they're so exciting. And when they play well, it's really amazing to see.

"But I need that little bit more now from the older lads as well to step up. It's their time as well, just as much as the young lads, to guide the young lads when things aren't going great.

"And that's going to be really important from the older players' point of view."