Tim Clancy reckons 16-year-old Sam Curtis is light years ahead in footballing terms.
The St Patrick’s Athletic teenager played a big role in last Friday’s injury-time winner against Dundalk - a result that keeps the race for third place very much alive.
He set the counter-attack that led to Adam O’Reilly’s goal in motion with a superb piece of defending against Lilywhites attacker Ryan O’Kane.
READ MORE: Dundalk boss says teenager's first-team breakthrough is down to attitude
It left his manager struggling for words, as Clancy appraised the teenager’s performance.
“Sam instead of just clearing it has got his body in the way, composure and have that belief on the ball, he finds the pass to Barry (Cotter),” said the Saints chief.
“Barry finds a brilliant pass to Ben, played Tunde on the overlap, it's a ball across and you have the defensive midfielder in the 93rd minute to tap the ball in.
“It's a fantastic goal but it starts with a 16 year old showing a lot more wisdom than you think at that age.”
It was an entertaining battle throughout as teenagers Curtis and O’Kane went head-to-head for supremacy inside the Pat’s box.
O’Kane did get on the scoresheet to cancel out Chris Forrester’s opener.
But otherwise he struggled to shake the attention of the Ireland underage defender.
“I don't think Ryan O'Kane got the better of him at any stage,” insisted Clancy.
“Physically Sam is ridiculous for a 16 year old, how aggressive he is, how strong he is and how brave he is. He puts his head in and wins tackles.
“The other side of him now where he's making good decisions, 93rd minute, where instead of just clearing it he has that composure now and uses his body really well.
“He has been phenomenal, 16 years of age and I think he has a bright future.”
Friday’s win means there is just a one-point gap between third placed Dundalk and St Pat’s in fourth.
European football next year will only be guaranteed by a top-three finish - although a Derry City win in the FAI Cup would see the fourth placed side sneak in once again.
But that’s not something on which Clancy is prepared to take a gamble.
“If it was the reverse result we probably would have been sitting there hoping for Derry to win the Cup,” he said.
“Now it gives us a chance to win as many games in the last four to try to get third place ourselves outright.
“You're going to have spells in the game but after the first 15 mins I thought we were the better team for the rest of the 75.
“We were due that result against Dundalk. In the other three games, they beat us 1-0 here, Shepperd made a few unbelievable saves against Eoin Doyle.
“The other 1-1 draw both teams could have won, on the balance of the four games we deserved tonight.”
Clancy also paid tribute to goalscorer O’Reilly, saying: “He has unbelievable energy, and got his reward there.
“He does a lot of work that most people don't think is fancy and goes unseen, but it certainly does not go unseen by us, breaking up attacks and picking up second balls, fighting for scraps.
“It's great for him to get the goal and the feel good factor.”
Meanwhile, he shrugged off concerns over opening goalscorer Forrester, who limped off late in the game.
“He said with ten mins left he had cramp in his hamstring,” explained Clancy. “That allowed Ben (McCormack) to come on and he was excellent.”
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