Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley heaped praise on Ed McGinty after his goalkeeper's penalty shootout heroics kept the Hoops' hopes of doing the double on course.
Rovers are seven points clear of Derry City at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division. But on Friday night, all focus was on the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup as they faced holders Drogheda United in the quarter-finals.
A tightly fought 90 minutes plus extra time saw the teams finish level at 1-1. But Bradley's side ultimately prevailed 5-4 on penalties with McGinty coming up with some crucial saves.
The Shamrock Rovers manager said the shot-stopper had further proven why he had been brought to the club.
"We trust Ed. We know he makes saves, he makes big saves and we said in the little huddle, Ed will make a couple of saves here and he's come up big for us," Bradley told RTÉ soccer correspondent Tony O'Donoghue.
Stephen Bradley was delighted with goalkeeper Ed McGinty as @ShamrockRovers kept their league and cup double aim on track after getting to the FAI Cup semi-finals via a penalty shootout win in Drogheda | @Corktod pic.twitter.com/dgpYwyAJHD
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 12, 2025
"He's grown with each week that's passed, each month that's passed. He's become more comfortable in the jersey in that position and he's got real character.
"He makes big saves, that's why I wanted him here and he makes us a better team."
On the game itself, Bradley felt it had been an excellent tie in which both teams had more than played a part in taking it the distance.
"You have to give Drogheda credit for that, first half I thought we were excellent and second half they were excellent," he said.
"They score in the last seconds of the game, take it to extra time, penalties. It had everything to be fair. Decent game, decent cup tie and thankfully we've come out on top."
As for their ambitions going forward, Shamrock Rovers are still fighting on three fronts with a significant lead in the league, a cup semi-final to come, as well as six league phase games in the UEFA Conference League.
"It's something we spoke about at the start of the year as a group, can we go and do that. It remains to be seen but that's the aim, go and do the double," Bradley said of the potential of doing the double.
"We're in the league phase of Europe and then it will be a good year for us."
Drogheda United might have been dethroned in the FAI Cup by Shamrock Rovers but Kevin Doherty felt his side have shown how far they've come | @Corktod pic.twitter.com/BsmGA75xbc
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 12, 2025
Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty rued his side losing their grip on the FAI Cup trophy but was pleased with his players' efforts.
"Given the way the game went, I thought we were excellent," he said.
"I've previously said, including before the match, (Rovers) are by far and away the best team - by a mile - and squad in the country.
"I thought we more than matched them tonight and we had a chance to win it with a penalty as well, and again fair play to the lads stepping up, and we practiced them.
"I said it wasn't luck the last time and it's not luck tonight. McGinty makes some good saves to be fair. We didn't miss the target.
"It comes down to penalties and like I said, against Rovers, it was a really, really unbelievable occasion because it shows you how far we've come that Rovers - obviously they're celebrating now - are absolutely delighted to get out of here and into the next round of the cup, because I think we could have won that but Rovers were good as well.
"It was a good game and showed how far we've come."
While Doherty took heart from the performance of his players, he felt one big decision went against them, namely the decision to book Shamrock Rovers midfielder Danny Mandroiu rather than send him off for scything down Conor Kane.
"I'm very, very disappointed. I think we could have had an extra man for most of the game and that would have made a massive difference," he said.
"That should have went for us but having said that we went toe to toe with far and away the best team in the country and we're one kick away from going through."
