David McMillan was likened to AC Milan and Italy legend Filippo Inzaghi after he smashed a hat-trick to win the FAI Cup.
The Dundalk striker made it nine goals in his last seven games as the Lilywhites came from behind to stun league champions Shamrock Rovers.
And after vowing to take the trophy to bed with him, Dundalk’s Italian boss Filippo Giovagnoli said: “David McMillan is like Inzaghi!
“He’s the type of player who is sometimes not there in a game, yet they're still hungry to score goals and work so hard around the box.”
And goal king McMillan beamed: “I’m just delighted. We came here knowing we'd been off it in the league.
“There was a lot of criticism from all angles, some of it deserved and some of it not so but that was our motivation.”
Dundalk still have a final Europa League group stage game to come against Arsenal on Thursday.
But winning the cup was their priority and Giovagnoli feels it is a warning shot to Rovers that Dundalk are going nowhere.
“We want to show that Dundalk are still up there,” said the manager who was only appointed in August.
“This was a very short season and I think the Cup has the same value as the league and it was important to show Shamrock Rovers that we are still fighting.
“The best feeling I have is seeing the players happy - that’s more important to me than a trophy. Trust me. But it was really important to prevent Rovers winning the double.”
And it was a special night for Dundalk captain Chris Shields who missed last year’s final through suspension.
Shields beamed: “This is the greatest honour of my career. Things have come full circle for me. You can ask my wife, the last 13 months hit me really hard.
“We're not finished as a club and as players I think that was a statement of intent.
Shields added: “We’ve been told we’ve had an awful year…..Group stages of the Europa League, qualified for Europe next year and we’ve won the FAI Cup.”
But the joint-longest serving player is pleading with Dundalk chiefs to sort the contract standoff with so many players.
“It’s a shame it’s gone on this long,” he said. “It’s a tight knit group.”
