Stephen Bradley paid tribute to his returning international star Jack Byrne, who made his first start in over two months in Shamrock Rovers' 2-1 FAI Cup win over Drogheda United on Sunday.
"He was excellent," Bradley told RTÉ Sport. "He was really good. We took him out obviously just to protect him. I thought the players that came in were very good."
Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty recognised Byrne's qualities too.
"First half, you don't want to be focusing on too much on one player, but I thought Jack Byrne was the difference to the last time we played them, we didn't get close enough to him," said Doherty.
It was one of the substitutes that created the winning goal for the Hoops in extra-time.
Justin Ferizaj's raking through ball into the path on Andy Lyons was slightly miscontrolled but the Ireland under-21 international made no mistake with his strike as he swept his effort beyond the clutches of Colin McCabe in the Drogheda goal.
"Once he's in that final third you always fancy him, and he's come up with another big goal for us," said Bradley.
Shamrock Rovers are attacking on all fronts. Leading the league by seven points, despite playing a game less than Dundalk, they're back into the FAI Cup quarter-finals alongside juggling six more European games in the UEFA Conference League.
The game going into extra-time was no skin off Bradley's nose.
"It doesn't matter. You have to face what's in front of you, that's what was in front of us today and the players stood up to it.
"You have to show different qualities every week, every game and they've done that."
Drogheda had taken four points from the champions already this season and when Dean Williams pulled the sides level, things could have gone south for Rovers.
Bradley was frustrated that Rovers did not make the most out of his side's string of first-half chances.
"I thought the game should have been over with (in the first half). In the second half we tired a bit and you could see it became an even game then. I thought first we half we were excellent, but we had to dig in and we have.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game after the schedule we have had. I thought first half we were brilliant."
The Drogs have had a good season under Doherty's tenure so far and he heaped praise on his players after they fell behind to Sean Gannon's first half goal.
"I thought second half we were excellent and more than deserved our equaliser," said Doherty.
"It goes to extra-time and you see what they are able to bring on, we brought on subs as well but I don't want to keep harping on about it but we have played them three or four times this year and we competed with them on the pitch, but it's just the other stuff that we are miles behind and they are so far ahead in.
"Our lads are going home now to get up for work in the morning. In fairness to the players, they were magnificent."
In traditional cup-tie spirit, tackles flew in left, right and centre in an enthralling tie at Head In The Game Park.
"I thought they got an awful lot of soft ones [frees]" said Doherty.
"I wouldn't be calling on anyone to get sent off, but thought there was a fairly dangerous one on Luke Heeney, but I wouldn't want to see the young lad get sent off."
Listen to the FAI Cup quarter-final draw live on Game On on 2FM from 6:10pm on Tuesday
