FAI Cup final hero Cameron McJannet sent Derry City fans nuts after scoring with his crotch and beamed: ‘I’m speechless’.
The Englishman hit the net twice at Aviva Stadium to double his goals tally for the season in one foul swoop as the Candystripes battered Shelbourne to rewrite the history books.
McJannet scored in both halves as Derry recorded the biggest winning margin ever in an FAI Cup final - but he admitted knowing little about his second goal.
READ MORE: Record-breaking Derry City romp to FAI Cup final victory over Shelbourne
From a Michael Duffy corner that was steered towards him by a Shelbourne head, the defender bundled the ball home at close range to put Derry three goals to the good.
McJannet said: “I'll be honest, it came off my crotch or hip bone and luckily hit the bar and went under, but you take every one you get.
“I'm buzzing and a bit speechless to be honest. When I woke up this morning I would not have thought I'd score two goals in a cup final and keep a clean sheet as well.
“It's unbelievable. I had 10 family here and two mates in the clouds and it's unbelievable to do it in front of them. This medal will stay around my neck for a few days.”
McJannet joined Derry two years ago during lockdown and of the players who were signed then, only he and James Akintunde are still at the club.
“It was in the middle of Covid and I just wanted to play football and Derry gave me that opportunity and I'm thankful to them,” said the Milton Keynes lad.
“I think of how far we’ve come since then, finishing second in the league this season and lifting a trophy today, it's unbelievable.”
And McJannet believes this Cup final win can act as a springboard for future success as Derry target an all out league title assault on Shamrock Rovers next year.
“Hopefully it’s a platform and we can compete for every trophy there is.
“It's silly to say but there’s obviously a sense of achievement today and we can't stop here. Everyone is on the same page and we will push on for more.
“Last year, we were 24 points off Rovers and now it's 13 points. Once we knew it was mathematically done we let a few results go.
‘But hopefully we can reduce the gap again and go for it.”
Duffy whipped in the corner for McJannet’s second goal and the Derry winger echoed his team-mates belief that the Candystripes should be targeting league titles.
Duffy returned to his hometown club from Dundalk this season, having won two leagues and two FAI Cups with the Lilywhites.
“This was the goal,” said Duffy. “When Ruaidhri signed us he said he wanted to build a squad here that was capable of bringing trophies back to the Brandywell.
“He wanted us to believe that we could do something special this year and I think we have. We pushed Rovers in the league and have won a cup in style today.”
Duffy was a teenager with Derry when they won the Cup in 2012, but he said: “It was a long time ago. I sort of remember it but didn't feel part of it as I didn’t make the 18.
“It wasn’t like winning this, with your family here. This was special.
“The ones at Dundalk were unbelievable, they were my first cups and I will never forget them but this is extra special. It's why I came back to the club.”
A section of frustrated Shelbourne fans started fighting with each other behind Brian Maher’s goal in the dying stages of the game.
Gardai had to intervene, with one supporter ejected from the stand and marched down the tunnel.
Maher's goal had been peppered with flares just before that but the Derry keeper said: “I just saw it come over my shoulder.
“But it was only one fan, and to be fair to the Shels fans they were really, really good behind me and have been incredible all year.
“I’m from near enough to there, I know a few people who go to Shels games. They are a really good team with a really good manager.”
Maher was relieved to finish his season off on a high after the agony of missing out on the European Championships with Ireland’s Under-21s after a shootout defeat to Israel.
“It doesn't feel like one year,” he said, summing up his and Derry’s season. “I feel like I’ve been playing for three years straight. I’ve barely got time off.
“The season has had ups and downs, but when you finish like this, these days make the downs feel not as bad.”
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