Michael Noonan was straight back to reality after making history for Shamrock Rovers in the Europa Conference League.
The teenage striker scored on his debut for the club against Molde on Thursday night.
Noonan’s strike was the only goal of the game in their knockout play-off round first leg in Norway.
It was also a record-breaking goal for the youngster, who scored aged 16 years and 187 days.
In doing so, he became the youngest ever scorer in a European club competition, breaking Romelu Lukaku‘s record.
The Belgian previously set the record in 2009 by scoring for Anderlecht against Ajax in the Europa League aged 16 years and 218 days.
Noonan’s historic achievement was celebrated back in the Republic of Ireland by his family, including his mum Sandie.
Reacting to the feat, she wrote on X: “I think it’s safe to say I’m the proudest Mam in the whole world tonight.”
Sandie later revealed on Friday morning that Noonan was already back in school following his heroics the night before.
Sharing a snap of the teen heading off for school, she added: “And back to school he goes…”
The forward was also hailed by his manager Stephen Bradley after the match.
Explaining the decision to hand him his debut, he said: “I made the decision two weeks ago, after watching him up close in training.
X / @sandie_noonanNoonan’s mum revealed he was straight back to school on Friday[/caption]
“You understand where the player is and get a feeling of what the dressing room are feeling in terms of that level of respect and you have to earn that as a young boy.
“And you could see that very quickly that Michael has that. I made the decision to play him really early, but didn’t tell him.
“I don’t want to tempt fate but if you’ve watched him which I have from a young age from 10 or 11, he scores goals.
“When you have the attitude and character to go with that, and he does. He just lives, breathes and sleeps football.
“Spend five minutes in Michael’s company and you understand that he just needs to know that he’s crossing the white line, and then he’s ready.
“He’s a throwback, he just wants to play. He doesn’t care if it’s in front of 200 people at Bray away, Molde away in front of 4,000 or in front of 30,000 at the Aviva. He doesn’t care.
“He just sees football. If he keeps that attitude he’s got a right chance. He’s a 16 year old by age but not by anything else.”
Noonan only signed for Rovers from St. Patrick’s Athletic in January, with the clash with Molde his debut for the club.
The Irish youth international could make his league debut for the Hoops when the new season begins this weekend.
Rovers face local rivals Bohemians away from home on Sunday before their second leg with Molde in Dublin next Thursday.
Noonan’s historic strike has given Bradley’s side a lead to protect after they saw off their 10-man opponents in the opening leg.
The winners of the tie will face either Cercle Brugge or Legia Warsaw in the last 16 next month.
