Match-winner Rooney dedicates the decisive goal to his late mother

St Johnstone matchwinner Shaun Rooney paid tribute to his late mother and said Saints’ triumph will have had a strong emotional impact on his entire family.

Rooney’s first thought as the final whistle blew was of his mother Elizabeth, who died from cancer back in 2019 just two days short of her 25th wedding anniversary.

Rooney said: “I’m over the moon. I can’t hide the emotion. I’m still buzzing.

“I want to thank my mum. Obviously she has passed away but this is massive for my whole family.

“I think everyone in the family will have a tear in their eye but I’m absolutely buzzing.

“This is the second trophy in the club’s history and absolutely massive for everyone in Perth.”

The St Johnstone match-winner added: “I expect they will be partying on long into the night.

“I don’t know if we will be able to enjoy it ourselves. We’re meant to be in training tomorrow – hopefully we’ll get the day off.”

Rooney found himself facing a surprise battle with Livingston captain Marvin Bartley.

Lions boss David Martindale decided to shift Bartley out from the centre of midfield in a bid to thwart Rooney’s threat down the right wing.

The 24-year-old added: “We knew it was going to be a really hard game. We know what Livingston are all about.

“They play for second balls and try to get in behind you, they try to get the nitty-gritty and to wind you up.

“But we stuck at it and got the win.

“The tussle with Marvin was probably my hardest of the season to be fair.

“He does the dirty work well, he’s always grabbing you and trying to wind you up.

“He’s got a wee bit of pace about him as well.

“But I’m just so happy to win the battle,” added the goal-scorer.

Shaun Rooney gets up to score the Hampden winner.

David Martindale and Scott Robinson are dejected.