Teenagers Evan Ferguson and Andrew Moran were handed senior debuts for Brighton and Hove Albion as they advanced to the third round of the Carabao Cup.
The Dublin duo were second-half substitutes as the Sussex side ran out 2-0 winners over Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff City in the Welsh capital on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Lucan’s Andrew Omobamidele made his first start of the season for Norwich City as they breezed past Gavin Kilkenny’s Bournemouth with a 6-0 win.
All eyes were on the game in Cardiff, however, as 16-year-old Ferguson and 17-year-old Moran were introduced for their senior bows for the Premier League side.
Both were the youngest ever to make their senior bows in the League of Ireland for their clubs, Ferguson for Bohemians and Moran for Bray Wanderers, at the age of 15.
Former St Joseph’s Boys underage player Moran was the first to be introduced with 23 minutes remaining, replacing Marc Leonard as the Seagulls led 2-0.
And former St Kevin’s Boys schoolboy Ferguson, the son of former Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians midfielder Barry, replaced Enock Mwepu nine minutes from time.
In East Anglia, former Leixlip United defender Omobamidele further polished his rising star with a clean sheet in their resounding win over Bournemouth.
Omobamidele, who made nine league appearances as Norwich lifted the Championship title in May, completed 95% of his passes on a fruitful day for the Canaries.
His fellow under-21 international Kilkenny played 90 minutes for the visitors, while ex-Shamrock Rovers and Lucan United keeper Mark Travers was an unused sub.
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