Conor Hourihane dreams of this season ending with promotion and Euro 2016 but he is currently focusing on improving the performances of himself and the Barnsley team after a 'disappointing' draw at Blackpool on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Irishman followed up his goal against Swindon – when he was watched by his former Sunderland and Ipswich manager Roy Keane who is assistant to Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill – with the eighth-minute opener in the 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road. Reds head coach Lee Johnson says O'Neill should pick the midfielder next month when Ireland play their last two group games against Poland and Germany as they try to make the finals in France next year.

Hourihane told the Chronicle: "Playing for Ireland is something that I work towards all the time and something that I dream of, along with getting promotion with Barnsley. Hopefully, if I keep working hard on my game, I will get there. I have scored in my last two games so that won't do me any harm.  I am looking to get into the squad and hopefully I will get there in the end.  I just need to keep playing well for Barnsley and see what happens."

Johnson has previously said that Hourihane is having to learn how to play in certain formations and that becoming comfortable in a central midfield two will be vital if he is to be a regular at international level or in a higher division than League One. The former Plymouth captain said: "First and foremost I am a centre midfielder who likes to get in the box and chip in with a few goals. Whatever the formation and wherever the gaffer puts me, I will play.  I am always working hard on my game and hopefully that shows in matches."

Johnson has been trying to get his young side to communicate better on the pitch and has praised Hourihane – the second most experienced in the squad – for being more vocal and leading the team's pressing. Conor said: "The gaffer has worked with me on that side of my game and it is coming on. I appreciate him taking the time out to make me a better player and now it's about me going out on the pitch and repaying him. Hopefully I will keep doing that."

Hourihane's goal on Saturday was his 17th in 63 games for Barnsley and made him joint top-scorer this season with three along with Lewin Nyatanga, Marley Watkins and Sam Winnall. Hourihane and Winnall dominated the scoring charts last season and, in the summer, the Irishman said he hoped the rest of the team would chip in this season. He said: "It's part of my game to score goals so, when one goes in, it is pleasing.  There are goals across our team which is important. It's nice that they get spread over the team in general."

Hourihane's strike was cancelled out as the Reds drew with bottom club Blackpool. He said: "I was disappointed. I think we really played well, especially in the first half and, even in the second half when they got a bit of a foothold, I think we were still playing well. We had a lot of possession but didn't create a lot of chances. To only score one goal when we were well on top was disappointing. We all know that Blackpool have got their problems but they still had 11 good, young, hungry players who want to win a game of football.

"They made it hard for us in the second half but, if we have any aspirations to do anything this year, we need to win those games. We are playing good football and, if we improve in the final third, we will be all right. We would have liked to have created more clear cut chances but at least it's a point and something to build on. We have to learn from the Blackpool game and take it into the next game."