Ireland FA Cup Round-up: Paul Merson compares striker to Thierry Henry, Jon Dahl Tomasson hails duo

Rory Finneran became the youngster player in Blackburn Rovers' history while Sammie Szmodics netted the first hat-trick of his career.

HENRY-ESQUE: Queens Park Rangers' Sinclair Armstrong scores. Photo credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire.

A number of Ireland players made their mark on the FA Cup third round, but the weekend truly belonged to Blackburn Rovers’ pair; Rory Finneran and Sammie Szmodics.

At just 15 years of age, the Blackburn native Finneran, who has won caps for the Republic of Ireland at Under 15, Under 16 and Under 17 level, became the youngest player in Rovers’ history to make his debut.