‘Best Day Of My Life’: Lincoln City Man Makes Stunning International Debut

May 18, 2026 Kyle Kennealey Lincoln City, News 0

Credit Graham Burrell

Lincoln City’s Jack Moylan marked his first international call-up for the Republic of Ireland with a scintillating hat-trick against Grenada. 

Grows for his inclusion in the senior Ireland squad had intensified after a glittering campaign at club level for the Imps, helping us win promotion to the Championship.

And on the international stage, his performance proved why the fuss around the 24-year-old has been so strong, becoming the first Irishman to score on debut in 39 years.

It won’t do us any favours in trying to keep Moylan this summer, but it certainly adds more money to any potential sale.

Despite missing three months of the campaign, the Irishman made up for lost time. City only lost one league game in which he started this season, returning to the side in late November. After a steady comeback, he burst into life in the new year, scoring four times in three matches against Burton Albion, Bradford City and Wigan Athletic. The goal contributions continued to flow, ending the League One season with 18 in total.

One final flourish at the end of the season saw Moylan score that goal at Reading, while scoring an extraordinary solo goal against Wycombe Wanderers. He joined three of his teammates in the League One Team of the Season, underlining how pivotal his role has been in City’s success this season.

Credit Graham Burrell

But any hopes of keeping Moylan under the radar at Lincoln are now out the bag, after his remarkable senior debut. There were hopes that he would be selected for the pivotal World Cup play-off against the Czech Republic in March, but that game came too soon. This was arguably a better, more relaxed chance for the 24-year-old to get stuck into international football, as part of a much-changed Irish squad.

After a couple of chances in the opening period, Moylan got his first senior goal just after the hour mark, following a quick-fire brace from Tom Cannon. He latched on to a Dara O’Shea header, racing goalwards and finding the net with a low drive. Lincoln’s number 10 added his second with a composed finish from close range, before putting his name into the record books with a back-post header to complete his treble.

Moylan was understandably delighted in the aftermath of the fixture in Murcia, and a little starstruck too.

“I was in a state of shock at the end of the game. I was sitting in the dressing room for 20 minutes without a single thought in my head.

“I know it is a cliché, but you do dream of these days as a kid. I am immensely proud to play for my country. I might never ever do it again. It’s the best day of my life.

“I don’t know if my dad will remember this; he’s probably not the most emotional man in the world, but he told me as a kid that he’d only ever cry if I scored for Ireland. I’d better see a big red face on him!”

What’s Next For Moylan?

A summer break, first and foremost. Moylan wasn’t selected for Ireland’s latest friendlies against Qatar and Canada in the next few weeks, with Heimir Hallgrímsson opting for a much more experienced side again. The thinking behind this is that the Irish manager will have a chance to experiment once again, before the Nations League fixtures in September and October. 

Moylan wasn’t the only League One player included in the latest Ireland squad. Luton Town duo Josh Keeley and Millenic Alli were both introduced as second-half substitutes, with the majority of the squad coming from Championship teams. That’s a division that Lincoln’s hot prospect will be playing in next season, but the question remains whether it will be with us or another side.