Oran Kearney has hailed the journey Coleraine striker Matthew Shevlin is on as he reached 16 goals for the season in midweek.
The 24-year-old has remarkably been around the Irish League for eight years after he first broke on to the scene as a fresh-faced 15-year-old at Ballymena United.
It took him only 90 seconds to notch up his first goal at senior level, but despite that early promise he never really hit his full potential with the Sky Blues nor during a brief spell at Linfield.
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But it has been a different story under Kearney at Coleraine.
He has fast become the Bannsiders go-to-guy in front of goal with his brace against Cliftonville in Tuesday night
BetMcLean League Cup semi-final taking the game to penalties, before he bagged a spot kick in the shootout to secure a third final for his side in the last four seasons.
"I'm delighted for Matthew," said Kearney ahead of Friday night's league clash with Crusaders at The Showgrounds.
"He's a good fella and he works so hard at his game. He just wants to learn and he keeps getting himself into those areas.
"It was a bit of a frustrating night for him against Cliftonville – but he had two chances tonight and scored both of them.
"Maybe 18 months ago Matthew might not have been in that form , he might have needed three or four chances to get his goal.
"To me that's a measure of how far he's come and then he goes and strokes a brilliant penalty as well."
Kearney was delighted to see his side twice battle back from a goal down to finally see off the Reds, something which they failed to do against any opposition for some while.
"The character on Tuesday night was immense," said the Bannsiders boss.
"Rarely if ever have we come from behind this season, it shows you how hard it's getting.
"For me, that's the biggest manner of what was there.
"Not only did we dominate a big part of the second half but we restricted them to very little as well.
"We were expansive and going forward but we were still kept the back door shut.
"I'm just delighted for everybody at the club – board, players who've kept at it and really turned the corner the last six or seven weeks and more importantly the fans as well because they've had a taste for finals and we want to keep bringing that taste."
It's back to league action on Friday evening with in-form Crusaders the visitors and Kearney is expecting another tough test.
"A lot of energy was used on Tuesday night," he said.
"There was also a massive injection of adrenaline which to tap into and hit the ground running with."
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