Aaron Connolly’s rebirth and the Manchester United rising star – inside Leyton Orient’s Irish connections ahead of FA Cup clash

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Aaron Connolly is trying to resurrect his career at Leyton Orient who play Salford City in the FA Cup on Friday night. Photo: Pete Norton/Getty Images

As the nation basks in the afterglow of Troy Parrott’s heroics, it’s been a little over six years since a different Irish striker was dominating discussions.

In late 2019, Aaron Connolly announced himself on the Premier League stage with a brace to help Brighton defeat Spurs, an afternoon when the Galway native became the first Irish teenager to score a double at that level since Robbie Keane in 1999 (a feat since matched by Evan Ferguson).