FROM ROUGH DIAMOND TO KING OF THE PALACE

Justin's shield of dreams as he fires Eagles to glory after swapping bench at Airdrie for the Wembley podium

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JUSTIN DEVENNY was on cloud nine last night as he walloped home the winning penalty at Wembley to give Crystal Palace their second trophy in three months.

But if he'd checked X after the game hed have been brought crashing back down to earth after Glenafton cheekily reminded the Scot he was on trial for the West of Scotland League side just four years ago.

From the ecstasy on the pitch to the long climb up those famous steps to collect his medal, the former Kilmarnock youngster could be forgiven for wondering just how on earth hed come so far, so fast.

It was only in February 2022 when Devenny was sitting on the Airdrie bench, unsure where his fledgling career was heading.

Just three-and-a-half years later, he's a Premier League regular, an FA Cup winner, and now the man who sealed Palace's first-ever Community Shield triumph.

Super sub Devenny was inches away from giving Palace victory when his added-time shot flashed just past.

And Palace boss Oliver Glasner revealed the 21-year-old Northern Ireland international was determined he wouldn't be denied his moment of glory and volunteered to take the fifth penalty in the shootout.

The Austrian said: "Justin came to me and said 'I'll take it, I'll take the last one'.

"It was a big performance. We were almost the same level as Liverpool.

"I'm really proud of the team and how they played."

At least Liverpool can take comfort in the fact the winner of the Community Shield has not gone on to win the Premier League for the last six years.