Finding Evan Ferguson the level-headed youngster who has already made history

Close to an hour after Evan Ferguson had made history and became the first Meathman to score a goal for Ireland at senior international level against Latvia last night, he was escorted out of the mixed zone by an FAI official and was being guided to the players' lounge where family members were waiting - and a welcome bite to eat.

The Bettystown youngster was in demand after he had made his first international start for Stephen Kenny's side; a big step in his development as an international footballer following two cameo appearances as a sub against Norway and Malta last November.

The 18-year-old, after all, has become something of a sensation ever since he scored a goal for Brighton & Hove Albion against Arsenal on New Year's Eve.

He has added another six strikes for his club since then and he found the net last night against the Latvians before a bumper 41,211 spectators who appeared the enjoy the football produced - and Ireland's 3-2 victory with the goals scored by Callum O'Dowda, Ferguson and Chiedozie Ogbene. It's a game, a goal, Ferguson is unlikely ever to forget.

"Playing in the Premier League helps coming into international football, it's such a quick pace, but I thought I felt all right physically. I only had a game a few days ago but, considering that, I felt all right," he said in a brief but exclusive interview with the Meath Chronicle afterwards.

In the summer of 2018 Darragh Lenihan became the first Meath player to be capped at senior level. Jamie McGrath followed in his footsteps and has seven caps to his name. Now Ferguson has taken up the baton and he created his own little piece of history by becoming the first player from the Royal County to score a top-level international goal.

The Meath Chronicle had sought to get a word with Ferguson after that history-making moment for the Bettystown youngster but that turned out to be a more torturous task than might at first appear.

While this correspondent had acquired a media pass for the Latvia game it didn't allow me access to the mixed zone where players emerge from the dressing room and speak to members of the media. Only members of the national media were allowed in and a TV crew from Brighton & Hove Albion TV who were also following Ferguson for the night.

I could, however wait outside the zone where the team buses were parked. There, I could wait for the players to come through - so that's what I did. Some of the players walked directly from the dressingroom area and onto the team bus. Most however, headed, or were escorted by an official, to the players' lounge where some friends, family and food awaited.

The players duly filed passed. Seamus Coleman, that most decent of footballers, smiled and said hello. Most of the other Irish players followed suit no doubt eager to get to the players' lounge and have something to eat.

Even though Ferguson had been hounded down all evening, first by the Latvian defenders, and latterly by reporters eager to hear what this new sensation of Irish football had to say for himself, he was still willing to stop and have a few words with the Meath Chronicle.

Ferguson is a obviously a young footballer with special qualities including the invaluable talent, knack of being in the right place at the right time to score goals. Arguably, however, he has even more priceless, more valuable, qualities than the ability to turn a defender and put the ball in the back of the net - a great attitude; an calm, unflustered temperment.

As Johnny Giles has often said in his Off the Ball Thursday night slot the "right attitude" is the starting point for any successful player. The basic but vital building block.

It would be so easy for the Meath youngster to get lost in the hype but he clearly has people cleverly advising him (including his father Barry who played for host of clubs in England and Ireland such as Northampton and Shamrock Rovers) - and Evan referred to that guidance as he stopped to talk a step or two away from the Latvian team bus.

"The people around me, they always help me, not getting too distracted off the pitch, keep my mind on what I have to do on the pitch," he said.

He talked of the joy of scoring against the Latvians. When asked about the score it brought a smile to his face. "Yeah I think the first one is probably always going to be the nicest one, to get it out of the way, on my first start it was good, yeah and I look forward to the next one."

Asked if he would get a chance to pay a visit to Bettystown while he is with the Irish squad the youngster again broke into a broad smile. "I don't think I will have time to go back, its just busy in camp," he said before adding how he has been getting plenty of messages from people in the area over the last few months.

Now the big game against France on Monday looms up. Ferguson is surely in line for a start against Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe & Co. He wasn't named as the man of the match against Latvia (Will Smallbone deservedly got that instead) but he certainly had a good game, capped by that sweet goal.

"We'll see who the manager picks, he'll pick what he thinks is the best team at the end of day so hopefully," added before moving on to where family members were waiting - and a welcome bite to eat.