ADAM ROONEY HIT a brace as Aberdeen pulled level on points with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership thanks to a thrilling 4-3 win at St Johnstone.
Rooney converted Shay Logan’s cross at the back post to give the visitors an early advantage after just five minutes at McDiarmid Park.
Tam Scobbie then volleyed against the post as St Johnstone sought an equaliser, but they were further behind in the 20th minute courtesy of Peter Pawlett’s deflected free-kick.
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David Wotherspoon slotted home seven minutes into the second half to reduce the arrears before Simon Church teed up substitute Niall McGinn to restore Aberdeen’s cushion.
Rooney appeared to have rounded off a comfortable triumph in the 77th minute when he worked his way past some ineffective defending to score, but first Steven Anderson planted a header past Aberdeen goalkeeper Scott Brown and then Scobbie set up a grandstand finish when he fired through a crowded penalty area in the 89th minute.
Aberdeen held on to move on to 55 points, having played a game more than defending champions Celtic, while St Johnstone missed the opportunity to replace Ross County in fourth.
Dublin-born Rooney has been on the periphery of recent Ireland squads, but has yet to be capped at senior level.
He has now scored 12 goals in his last 13 games, though remains touch and go for Ireland’s 23-man Euro 2016 squad, with Shane Long, Daryl Murphy, Robbie Keane and David McGoldrick all picked ahead of him the past.
Meanwhile, in other Irish player news, Cork-born midfielder Alan Browne scored the winner in Preston’s 2-1 Championship win over Huddersfield.
In addition, goalkeeper Keiren Westwood was taken off with suspected concussion in Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Birmingham, after clashing into teammate Sam Hutchinson. The stoppage meant there was 13 minutes of first-half injury time, as the Ireland international was stretchered off.
Aiden McGeady also made his full debut for Wednesday, playing an hour before being replaced by Atdhe Nuhiu.
A dark horse for Ireland's Euro 2016 squad is on fire in Scotland at the moment
ADAM ROONEY HIT a brace as Aberdeen pulled level on points with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership thanks to a thrilling 4-3 win at St Johnstone.
Rooney converted Shay Logan’s cross at the back post to give the visitors an early advantage after just five minutes at McDiarmid Park.
Tam Scobbie then volleyed against the post as St Johnstone sought an equaliser, but they were further behind in the 20th minute courtesy of Peter Pawlett’s deflected free-kick.
David Wotherspoon slotted home seven minutes into the second half to reduce the arrears before Simon Church teed up substitute Niall McGinn to restore Aberdeen’s cushion.
Rooney appeared to have rounded off a comfortable triumph in the 77th minute when he worked his way past some ineffective defending to score, but first Steven Anderson planted a header past Aberdeen goalkeeper Scott Brown and then Scobbie set up a grandstand finish when he fired through a crowded penalty area in the 89th minute.
Aberdeen held on to move on to 55 points, having played a game more than defending champions Celtic, while St Johnstone missed the opportunity to replace Ross County in fourth.
Dublin-born Rooney has been on the periphery of recent Ireland squads, but has yet to be capped at senior level.
He has now scored 12 goals in his last 13 games, though remains touch and go for Ireland’s 23-man Euro 2016 squad, with Shane Long, Daryl Murphy, Robbie Keane and David McGoldrick all picked ahead of him the past.
Meanwhile, in other Irish player news, Cork-born midfielder Alan Browne scored the winner in Preston’s 2-1 Championship win over Huddersfield.
In addition, goalkeeper Keiren Westwood was taken off with suspected concussion in Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Birmingham, after clashing into teammate Sam Hutchinson. The stoppage meant there was 13 minutes of first-half injury time, as the Ireland international was stretchered off.
Aiden McGeady also made his full debut for Wednesday, playing an hour before being replaced by Atdhe Nuhiu.
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