Double delight

Striker stars for Shamrock Rovers

TUAM'S Rory Gaffney was the hero for Shamrock Rovers on Sunday afternoon as the Dublin giants secured the League of Ireland and FAI Cup in the same season for the first time since 1987.

Gaffney's brace of second half goals were the difference in a 2-0 victory for the Hoops over major underdogs Cork City at the Aviva Stadium.Rovers, who secured a 1-1 draw away to AEK Athens in the UEFA Conference League just 72 hours earlier, grew in stature as the game progressed. And they would take full advantage of an extra man after Cork's Harry Nevin received a red card for his challenge on Josh Honohan just before the break.

Having had a goal ruled out for offside, Gaffney broke the deadlock after the hour mark when slotting home from close range. The 36-year-old centre-forward went on to grab a second seven minutes later and put the seal on the club's first domestic double in 38 years in front of a 35,252 attendance.

“From Galway, there's not too many FAI Cup winners, the last one I can think of was Johnny Glynn who scored the goal [for Galway United] in 1991,” Gaffney told RTÉ afterwards.

“He was here tonight. He was my first ever manager in the League of Ireland, probably going back to 2008, 2009.

“Without him and people like him, I wouldn't be here. So, it was great to have him here today. I can say that I've scored the winner in a Cup final too.”

Rovers' season isn't over just yet with European ties coming up against Shakhtar Donetsk, Breidablik and Hamrun Spartans before Christmas.

“I'd obviously like to keep going for as long as I'm able to make an impact. We'll review it at the end of the season, see how things are," Gaffney said of his future.