St Mirren Under-18s’ in-form winger was over the Mooney after a night Evan better than he expected after hitting a Scottish Youth Cup hat-trick.
Teen talent Evan Mooney fired the Buddies to a fourth-round victory over Hearts at Ainslie Park in Edinburgh on Tuesday evening. Stephen McGinn, the Under-18s coach at the club, said he was “so proud” of his team for how they handle big cup games.
The young Buddies started off brightly and pressed the hosts well in an attempt to create chances. It was all Saints in the opening 20 minutes and, depsite it being goalless, the Paisley club looked the more dangerous side.
With 10 minutes until the break, midfielder Lewis Marshall was closest to opening the scoring when his 20-yard strike was saved.
But Saints wouldn’t wait much longer before breaking the deadlock with Mooney – who made his first-team debut against Hearts at Tynecastle last month – on target.
In the second half, Lyle Hunter sent an effort just wide as Saints looked to extend their advantage. That was a sign of things to come as, moments later, Monney grabbed his second goal of the game.
Five minutes later, Hearts’ capital punishment was complete when Mooney wrapped up his hat-trick. McGinn praised Mooney for “stepping up” and believes the team showed exactly what they are capable of.
“I am so proud of them,” he told St Mirren’s media team afterwards. “I said to them coming into the game that big cup games are so tight and, first and foremost, worry about playing well as a team.
“When they do that, then individual brilliance will shine through and Evan Mooney stepped up for us.
“Hearts are a really good team and have really good players. You see the likes of James Wilson going on in an Edinburgh derby and scores a very good goal. I said to them that they have got good players but so do we.
“We have a real good team spirit and work so hard and, when they do that, we are a really good team and a hard one to beat with goals in the team.”
McGinn admits that he understands the position Mooney is in where he is on the fringes of making it into the first team and wants more.
The former Buddies academy player feels Mooney continuing to score goals will certainly capture boss Stephen Robinson’s attention.
“We have spoken to him individually as I have been here as a player where you are on that transition to the first team,” McGinn added.
“You’re full focus is on trying to get another taste of the first team and you come back on the Friday and there is a spotlight on him.
“We spoke about how him at his best is when he doesn’t come down here trying to get goals but being a team player. It is another really good hat-trick and, if you score goals, you catch anyone’s attention.”
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