Players keen to put their hand up if penalty shoot-outs arise

THE cold-blooded nature of a penalty shoot-out may just be the harshest manner in which to lose a championship match, especially for the player who fails to convert, but that hasn’t stopped hands going up if the situation arises in the weeks and months ahead.

Galway’s Damien Comer, Kerry’s David Clifford and Donegal’s Ryan McHugh all made it clear at yesterday’s SuperValu launch of their sponsorship partnership of the All-Ireland football championship that they would be willing to put themselves forward to take a kick.

But even as Ireland’s Euro 2020 qualification died on the spot in

Bratislava on Thursday night, ht, with Alan Browne and Matt t Doherty being thwarted at the vital moment, none were more enthusiastic than Dublin defender Cian O’Sullivan who said he was on standby if manager Dessie sie Farrell came calling.

“100 per cent, I’m in, but whether they (management) call or not, there is going to be a big question mark over that,” said O’Sullivan.

The spectre of penalties is looming larger as a way to decide championship games – or ‘winner on the day’, as it is termed. If two 10-minute periods of extra-time can’t separate two teams then each will take five penalties before sudden death.

ThThey could be more common thathan those who designed ththem imagined they would be at the outset, if the clclub championships are ananything to gauge by. In Tyrone, Dungannon ClarkClarkes’ first championship win iin 64 years was decided on penalties against a Trillick side that had advanced to the final, courtesy of a shoot-out success.

McHugh (pictured) admitted that prior to their aborted Donegal senior football final with Naomh Conaill, they had been practising penalties in case it came down to that.

“I’ve been with my club the last few weeks and coming up to the final we actually work at the end of training taking penalties,” he said. “It’s just something managers and coaches have to think about, an extra thing.

“If I am asked I’ll take one. I think there is a skill involved in taking a penalty, no more than taking a free. A good penalty taker is vital, it’s not just step up and hit it as hard as you can.

“There is actually a skill involved in trying to get the ball into the corner or put the ’keeper the wrong way,” figured McHugh.

Kerry manager Peter Keane feels confidence will play a part in who is nominated to take one.

“Obviously, somewhere in the back of your mind, it is there all right. Lots of things can change throughout a game. You might have guys in your mind, but maybe the guy you earmarked to kick one might end up being off the field at that moment.

“If you follow what soccer teams have done over the years a lot of it comes down to who is confident at that given time to put their hand up.”

O’Sullivan feels teams can’t overlook practising penalties and not have a strategy for them. “You would be a bit naive to think that you don’t have to prepare for your penalty kicks,” the Dublin defender said.

Liam Silke is the first-choice penalty taker in Galway, but Comer is offering his services after that.

“I’ll be in, provided Padraic (Joyce) lets me take one. I don’t think there is a fair way to lose a game when the margin is as tight as that though.”