'Excellent' Jack Byrne the difference for Stephen Bradley and Kevin Doherty in FAI Cup clash

Stephen Bradley paid tribute to his returning international star Jack Byrne, who made his first start in over two months in Shamrock Rovers' 2-1 FAI Cup win over Drogheda United on Sunday.

"He was excellent," Bradley told RTÉ Sport. "He was really good. We took him out obviously just to protect him. I thought the players that came in were very good."

Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty recognised Byrne's qualities too.

"First half, you don't want to be focusing on too much on one player, but I thought Jack Byrne was the difference to the last time we played them, we didn't get close enough to him," said Doherty.

It was one of the substitutes that created the winning goal for the Hoops in extra-time.

Justin Ferizaj's raking through ball into the path on Andy Lyons was slightly miscontrolled but the Ireland under-21 international made no mistake with his strike as he swept his effort beyond the clutches of Colin McCabe in the Drogheda goal.

"Once he's in that final third you always fancy him, and he's come up with another big goal for us," said Bradley.

Shamrock Rovers are attacking on all fronts. Leading the league by seven points, despite playing a game less than Dundalk, they're back into the FAI Cup quarter-finals alongside juggling six more European games in the UEFA Conference League.

The game going into extra-time was no skin off Bradley's nose.

"It doesn't matter. You have to face what's in front of you, that's what was in front of us today and the players stood up to it.

"You have to show different qualities every week, every game and they've done that."

Drogheda had taken four points from the champions already this season and when Dean Williams pulled the sides level, things could have gone south for Rovers.

Bradley was