Linfield supersub Ethan Devine says he realised a boyhood dream after scoring on hi Champions League debut in Wednesday night’s dramatic win over The New Saints at Windsor Park.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Blues skipper Jamie Mulgrew rifled home a stunning stoppage time equaliser in the return leg before Devine took centre stage in extra-time.
Fresh from rattling the crossbar before Mulgrew’s strike, the 21-year-old striker pounced for a 95th minute winner, sweeping home Chris McKee’s cross at the near post.
Read more: Linfield Champions League hero Ethan Devine's potential excites former Windsor Park favourite
“To score in front of the Kop on my European debut was unbelievable,” said Devine, who joined the Blues from Knockbreda in January.
“To be fair, I think it’s the first time I’ve scored at that end of the ground and to get my first European goal and scoring in the Champions League is kids’ dreams stuff.
“Hitting the bar in normal time gave me a wee bit of a fire in my belly and I knew if I got another chance I would take it.
“It was a big goal and Jamie’s equaliser is probably the best strike I’ve seen on a football pitch with my own two eyes. That’s why I went so mental after it.”
Wednesday night’s 2-1 aggregate win over the Welsh champions saw Linfield progress to the second qualifying round where Bodo Glimt lie in wait.
The Norwegian champions, who travel to Belfast for the first leg on Tuesday night, beat Celtic 5-1 on aggregate in last season’s Europa Conference League.
“I think they beat Celtic 2-0 and 3-1 or something,” Devine told Linfield TV. “What an experience it’ll be playing them but I’m sure we’ll have a game plan and we’ll stick to it.
“What more would you want, playing European football in different countries? It’s like a fairytale.”
Remarkably all six of Devine’s goals for Linfield so far have come as a substitute, four of them in stoppage time or extra-time.
The imposing forward scored crucial last-gasp winners against Crusaders (3-2) and Warrenpoint Town (2-1) in last season's title run as the Blues went on to lift the Gibson Cup in April.
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