Karl Sheppard didn’t surprise Shamrock Rovers team-mate Sean O’Connor with his two-goal cameo that saw the Hoops beat Dundalk in the FAI Cup quarter-final replay last night at Oriel Park.
Introduced as a substitute with 13 minutes to play, and trailing to Patrick Hoban’s goal for the hosts, Sheppard struck twice to end the league leaders’ treble dream.
After the game, O’Connor, whose assist resulted in the equaliser, told RTÉ Sport: “Sheppard has come on and given us another dimension, running in behind. That’s what he gives us.
“I knew if I won the ball he’d be on the defender’s shoulder, to thread it through to him
“He’s doing it in training, the last two or three weeks, he's flying. All credit to him for putting them away.”
"We didn’t stop believing. We knew the longer we stayed in it we had a chance"
The playing surface at Oriel Park has come in for some criticism but O’Connor felt they coped well, especially when former Republic of Ireland international Stephen McPhail was introduced.
“You know what you’re going to get when you come up here on this pitch,” said O’Connor.
“I don’t think many players in the league are fans of it. You kind of have to go a little bit more direct on it.
"I think when Stephen McPhail came on in the second half we kind of relaxed a bit, got it down, tried to play a bit, and it seemed to suit us. We're just delighted to be in the next round.
“We didn’t stop believing. We knew the longer we stayed in it we had a chance. I think it’s 20-odd years since Rovers won it so hopefully that will give us a little bit of belief.”
It was the sixth meeting of the sides this season and they will also face off in the EA SPORTS Cup final on Saturday, kick-off 5.45pm.
O’Connor added: “We’re the holders of [the EA SPORTS] cup so we want to retain it.”
