Former Derry City favourite James McClean scored his first goal for the Republic of Ireland overnight.
James McClean captures the atmosphere before Ireland’s friendly with Portugal in New Jersey in which he scored his first international goal.
The Derry man, now with Wigan Athletic in the SkyBet Championship, found the back of the net in the 52nd minute in the 5-1 reversal by Brazil-bound Portugal in a friendly game played in New Jersey in America.
Afterwards, the 25-year-old took to social media to say he was “devastated” by the heavy defeat but delighted to get his first goal – which came in his 23rd appearance for the Republic.
He tweeted: “Devastated to be beating by a big margin in the end over the moon to get my first international goal for my country tho meant everything.”
McClean made his international debut on 29 February 2012, coming on in the 78th minute for Aiden McGeady in a friendly against the Czech Republic at the Aviva Stadium.
While with Derry he scored 18 goals in 78 appearances and was on target seven times during his spell at Sunderland, making 59 appearances for the “Black Cats.”
To date, he has made 37 appearances for Wigan and scored three goals.
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