FAI Cup: Teenage Sub Sam Rooney Sinks Shamrock Rovers In St Pat’s Comeback

The Saints looked dead and buried at the break. Jonathan Afolabi and Michael Noonan had Rovers two goals up at half-time in a Dublin derby St Pat’s had already lost three times this season.

How St Pat’s turned the FAI Cup tie around

Luke Turner pulled one back early in the second half, and Aidan Keena forced extra time with a 94th-minute penalty. Rooney, a Tallaght native, then came off the bench to rifle home the winner and send Richmond Park into raptures, as detailed in The 42’s report from Richmond Park.

Stephen Kenny told RTÉ Sport the win came down to character, and singled out his academy graduates.

It was down to the guts and determination of the players. Credit to the players who came in from our academy, Ryan Sheridan and Sam Rooney. Sam got the winner which was great to see.

Rovers, with a Conference League play-off first leg against Finnish side KuPS to come on Thursday, made eight changes from the side beaten in Albania in the Europa League qualifiers. St Pat’s made just one, bringing Kian Leavy back into attacking midfield after last Sunday’s win over Shelbourne — another of the League of Ireland sides in Europe this season.

The result knocks out the holders and puts St Pat’s into Tuesday’s Club Orange FAI Cup quarter-final draw. “It gets you into the quarter-finals, but that’s all it gets you,” Kenny said.