What Rotherham United hat-trick hitman Georgie Kelly is planning to do with the match ball after the win at Mansfield Town

THE match ball from Rotherham United's win over Mansfield Town will soon be on its way to a remote corner of Southern Ireland.

Striker Georgie Kelly claimed the first hat-trick of his career in England on Saturday as he staked his claim for an opening-day role when the Millers kick off their Championship campaign on August 5.

It was only a friendly so, after the 4-2 triumph, the Irishman was surprised to be handed the ball with which he'd bagged his treble.

His prize will now sit alongside the two already on show in the Kelly family residence in rural Donegal.

"It's been a while since I scored a hat-trick," grinned the 26-year-old who joined Rotherham in January 2022 after a prolific season with Bohemians in the League of Ireland.

"I got a couple in my year with Bohs and a couple of match balls. I got the ball today, which is nice. I didn't expect that. I'll get it signed by the lads and I'll ship it back home. There's a wee cabinet there."

He wasn't the only man in red and white with a smile on his face at the rainswept One Call Stadium. Trialist Andrew Green, once of Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday, had fired Rotherham into a first-minute lead and then caught the eye with his touch and sharpness before being taken off after the hour mark.

Kelly's first goal - a run in on goal and cool, low finish - came in the 26th minute. Twice Mansfield equalised, through Stephen Quinn and Rhys Oates, in the opening period but the League Two side had no answer when the Millers strengthened in the second half and asserted their authority.

On 54 minutes, Ollie Rathbone's cross was good and his teammate's finish, as he arched backwards to glance a header into the bottom corner, even better.

Three minutes later, the duo were at it again as the former swung over a corner and the latter's shaven cranium did the damage

"It hasn't been a bad day," Kelly said. "There were a couple of nice headers. Hat-tricks are rare things. A lot of strikers go through their whole careers without getting one. I'm not getting carried away, though. Pre-season is a little bit different to Championship football."

He wasn't forgetting his back-to-goal lay-off that had given the impressive Green his chance to make an immediate impact.

"I'll take an assist for that!" he grinned again. "It was a great finish by Andre."

The clash was a good, tough workout for the Millers who responded in encouraging fashion after the Stags had been the best team for a large chunk of the first half.

Kelly headed for the team bus with the ball and one wee fear: "I hope I don't go home in a couple of months and see my little brothers and sisters kicking it around in the garden."

Mansfield (4-4-2): Christy Pym (Scott Flinders 74), Callum Johnson, Alfie Kilgour (George Cooper 74), Bailey Cargill (Aaron Lewis 53), Calum MacDonald; Hiram Boateng, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Louis Reed (Anthony Hartigan 74), Stephen Quinn (George Maris 49); Lucas Akins (Jordan Bowery 74), Rhys Oates (James Gale 81).

Rotherham (4-4-2): Dillon Phillips; Lee Peltier (Cohen Bramall 56), Sean Morrison (Tyler Blackett 64), Jamie McCart (Cameron Humphreys 64), Tolaji Bola (Hamid Seisay 74); Ciaran McGuckin (Leiwi Abraham 75), Curtis Durose (Grant Hall 74), Cafu (Ollie Rathbone H-T), Sullay Kaikai (Ben Wiles 64); Andre Green (Josh Ayres 68), Georgie Kelly (Jake Hull 64). Sub not used: Viktor Johansson.

Goals: Green 1, Kelly 26, 54, 57 (Rotherham); Quinn 4, Oates 40 (Mansfield).

Referee: Declan Bourne (Nottinghamshire).

Attendance: 2,154 (437).