Ed McGinty can rely on ‘absolutely mental' memory if Shamrock Rovers & Ballkani ends up going to penalties
IN MY 'ED Ed McGinty can rely on 'absolutely mental' memory if Shamrock Rovers & Ballkani ends up going to penalties
SHAMROCK ROVERS keeper Ed McGinty will not get wound up preparing for penalties — but he will be ready with his bottle if needed.
The Hoops host Kosovans Ballkani tonight trailing 1-0 from the first leg as they look to book a Conference League play-off.
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He feels ready if it goes all the way to a penalty shootout
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Stephen Bradley has a similar approach to them as McGinty
Penalties are possible after a tight first game. But McGinty said he will leave it to the Hoops' analysts to prepare rather than focus on it himself.
And for proof that his system works, he pointed to one of the best nights of his career in 2022 when he was in goal for Sligo Rovers as they beat Welsh outfit Bala Town in a Conference League shootout.
McGinty said: 'It was mental, it was absolutely mental. That's one of the ones that sticks out.'
McGinty turned to then-Sligo Rovers analyst Chris Jenkins in that tie for help and he delivered.
The Hoops No 1 explained: 'I think it was during half-time of extra-time when I said to Chris, 'You're going to have to do a wee bit of research here quickly'.
'In fairness, he went and got a bottle and I think one of them was wrong. So a lot of credit went to him. One of them was wrong and that was that. So he did well.'
Jenkins — who now works with St Pat's — provided information on four of the spot-kick takers correctly as McGinty saved two to send Sligo through that night.
And the stopper will take the same approach again if tonight's tie goes that far, with boss Stephen Bradley taking a similar view.
Bradley's Hoops have been involved in three shootouts during his nine years in charge, winning two and losing one — against Molde earlier this year.
He avoids penalty preparation, explaining: 'I've never been a believer in that. You can't create a game situation.
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'I could be the best penalty taker in the team, but on the day, I'm off . . . all that comes into play.
'There will be players that will stay back and take some, I'm sure, but it won't be as a collective. It's in that moment. Who's feeling it? Who wants it?'
McGinty has had some penalty practice with team-mates — but that often involves him taking a few as well.
He continued: 'I'll do a little bit of practising. I'd rather save them than score them. But if you have to step up and hit one, I'll just give that a go.'
'STAY CALM'
His preference, naturally, is that the Hoops go through with ease in 90 minutes.
He added: 'We want the fans and we want the roar from them.
'There will be times in the game where you'll feel like you're on top and times where you have to defend and that's just football.
'I just try to stay calm through it all and just try and do my job. That's all I really try to do.'
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