COMMERCE CITY — Sometimes, being the “hometown boy” just isn’t worth it. It can often mean being a go- to guy for media looking for an easy story angle, and resentment from teammates can be the result.

In one sense at least, Shane O’Neill and Davy Armstrong deflect some of that attention as the two local boys with the Rapids. The youngsters made their home debuts Tuesday in the Rapids’ 2-1 win over Swansea City of the English Premier League in an international friendly match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park before 6,484.

O’Neill, who starred at Boulder’s Fairview High School, made his MLS debut while Armstrong, who played at Rangeview in Aurora, played in his second match overall. Each entered Tuesday’s match in the 57th minute and showed well in a solid Rapids effort against a Swansea City side just beginning its preseason schedule.

“I feel like being on the bench in the last couple games really helped me out. I didn’t feel as much pressure, and felt pretty comfortable once I got a couple touches,” said O’Neill, a midfielder who was the 2011 Front Range player of the year with Fairview. “It was just a lot of fun. I just wanted to get as involved as I could and felt I did pretty well. I think the fans give me a lot of support and push me well, and it just makes me want to be a solid player.”

O’Neill, 18, had been playing until recently for the Rapids’ under-18 developmental team. Armstrong, 20, another midfielder, was the first player to come through the Rapids’ youth system and signed as the club’s first designated homegrown player in 2010.

“I was just trying to be as calm as I could be,” Armstrong said. “It was a great experience, playing in front of the fans here for the first time. My thoughts and prayers are still with the families of the (shooting) victims in Aurora, and I was just hoping I could represent my city well. It was great to get out there.”

Andre Akpan and Kamani Hill scored the Rapids’ goals, Akpan’s on a header after a gorgeous cross from Luis Zapata in the fourth minute. Hill put a perfect curling shot to the far post in the 15th minute. The win was the first for the Rapids against an EPL team, their only other match being a 2-1 loss to Everton FC in 2008.

Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360, adater@denverpost.com or twitter.com/adater