After a lifetime spent waiting for his first Premier League goal, 19-year-old Aaron Connolly grabbed his second about a half-hour later.
The milestone was always going to be remarkable for Brighton and Hove Albion’s young Irishman, but are all the more memorable coming in a 3-0 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday in front of his home fans at the Amex Stadium.
“I am not sure it has all sunk in,” Connolly said, via the BBC. “It’s a dream come through I love getting goals, I love being able to make my debut. It’s not really sunk in.”
[ RECAP: Brighton 3-0 Spurs ]
The Seagulls led 1-0 when Connolly collected the rebound from a clever shot and deposited it. His second goal buried woeful Spurs.
The Galway-born was on loan to Luton Town last season, but had otherwise spent every minute of his career at Brighton since signing from Mervue United as an adolescent in 2011.
Graham Potter is handing a lot of opportunity to Connolly, who is seizing it with both hands.
“He is playing me and trusting me,” Connolly said. “Straight away, when I came back I knew he was a manager I wanted to play under. His belief in me is great and I am so glad I can repay it.”