St George’s captain Sean Quaye has paid tribute to the younger players who helped clinch the Hospital Cup at the Bowl on Friday evening.

The centre-back produced a man of the match performance against St Mary’s as the Glencrutchery Road side beat their rivals in a dramatic penalty shootout, and he has high hopes for the future of his young team.

’What a way to finish the season, especially after the start we had - people may have thought we wouldn’t be there or thereabouts, but we’ve finished second in the league, albeit a little bit behind St Mary’s. But to finish (the season) by winning the Hospital Cup is the icing on the cake really - the young players we’ve had have really stepped up to the plate.

Quaye also reserved special praise for 16-year-old Lucas James who netted the winning penalty in the shoot-out: ’Fair play to young Lucas there - he had the chance to win the cup and, to be fair to him, he looked pretty nervous in the build-up to it.

’But I said to him "Pick your spot and put there." He’s a great footballer, he’s been in and out of a few games this season, but he’s got some nice little touches.

’He didn’t have a lot of time to do much at the end there when he came on in extra-time, but he’ll be a fantastic player - I’m made up for him. Of course, Glenn (Walker) made a great save to give him the opportunity to win the game.

’You can see how much this means to the lads, because we didn’t think we’d be fighting for anything really if I’m honest with you. We’ve got in the Railway Cup final, won the Hospital Cup and finished second in the league - it’s be a great season considering where we were at the start. Hopefully we can build on that next year and we’ll go again.

’What a strike it was by Jay (Skelcher-Maxwell)! I thought we were never going to get a goal to be honest - we had so many chances in that first half, some cleared off the line.

’When that went in and then we got the second one, I thought that was it. But a soft penalty at the end and another goal when Frank headed one in, at full-time I just thought it wasn’t going to be today.

’Thankfully though, we held on - we struggled there right at the end of extra-time, it was a mad 30 seconds. But I’m so happy for the lads and the management who believed in the lads. Hopefully we can push on again next season, that’s what the aim is.’

Whilst clearly happy with the victory, Quaye was also quick to pay tribute to former island striker Stephen Glover who died earlier in the week.

’I thought highly of Ste, I had some fantastic battles with him over the years - what a player. He was like a rough diamond, he would absolutely skin you for fun - his record speaks for itself.

’I was lucky enough to play in the island team with him - we might have even made our debuts together up in Scotland.

’What a great guy and such a tragic loss to Manx football and the community.

’Our thoughts are of course with Ste and his family plus St Mary’s and Pulrose and the teams he played for. God rest his soul.’