Some goalkeepers don't just save, they convert too

SEPTEMBER ROAD:WHATEVER HAPPENED to staying on your line? There was a time a goalkeeper wouldn't leave the small square even if he spotted a roll of tenners sitting on the 21-yard line.

Now goalkeepers want to be involved in general play. And not only that, they want to be listed on the scoring charts too.

Scoring goalkeepers such as Clare hurling’s Davy Fitzgerald or Laois football’s Tony McMahon used to be the exception, but now they are 10-a-penny.

Stephen Cluxton was joint second in the scoring charts for Dublin on Saturday, landing a 45 just before the break to send the Leinster team in at the break level with Armagh.

He’s starting to get used to coming upfield to take 45s, though it’s hard not to view it as a damning indictment of the forwards.

Still, it’s becoming more and more common in every province, and at every grade.

Despite appearing in his first Munster final earlier this month, Limerick’s Brian Scanlon was one of those who wanted to do it all. And, in fairness, he had already achieved as much in the NFL Division Four final in April.

With the sides locked at 1-14 each, Scanlon made a stunning late save to deny Waterford’s Patrick Hurney. Moments later, at the other end of the Croke Park pitch, Limerick were awarded a 45. Up stepped Scanlon to land the winner.

Ten weeks later, in Killarney, Scanlon knocked over two frees during Limerick’s early dominance of the provincial decider. Alas, of course, while his kicks didn’t, the challenge would ultimately fall short.

Carlow’s strong performances in the Leinster under-21 hurling championship this season included a shock hammering of Laois in June, a match also notable for Laois’s reliance on goalkeeper Eoin Reilly when a long-range free was awarded.

The Laois number one claimed their first score of the game and, late on, with Laois desperately looking for a way back into the game, Reilly came up to take a 21-yard free. His effort was saved and Carlow won.

And in the middle of Longford’s amazing 2010 Leinster Minor football championship run – which started with a 22-point loss to Offaly in the first round and ended with a six-point victory over the same side in the final – they met a fancied Westmeath team in Mullingar.

With the game in the balance in the final minutes, Mark Hughes was brought down in the Westmeath square. Paddy Collum, Longford’s goalkeeper, made the long trek to the other end of the pitch and coolly stroked home the spot-kick. Longford won 1-6 to 0-6.

The upheaval in Limerick hurling has meant we have been denied Brian Murray’s scoring exploits this season. Last summer he broke Dublin hearts in the All-Ireland quarter-final with several crucial saves, and then sauntered upfield to crack home a penalty in Thurles.

So, more and more, goalkeepers are encroaching on new ground.

2010 Hurling

DRAWS in the 2010 hurling and football championship are almost single-handedly – considering ticket prices are still too high – saving the GAA’s season when it comes to attendance figures.

So far this summer there have already been eight draws – with six replays needed (in football, Offaly and Clare was sorted out on the day using extra-time and similarly, in hurling, Cork and Waterford used extra-time to decide a winner on Saturday).

The 2007 season was remarkable in that Tipperary and Limerick drew three times in Munster (counting the first replay, in which the teams drew after normal time and extra-time, as one drawn encounter) and Wicklow and Louth also needed three meetings in Leinster.

With at least 16 matches still on the calendar for 2010, the attendances at replays has already reached 93,996.

And, of course, any more replays now we’re entered the business end of the championships will send the figures soaring.