Goalkeepers spot-on

Goalkeepers took a bow in Division 1 this weekend with three of them making penalty saves.

Kerry’s Brendan Kealy, Tyrone’s Niall Morgan and Mayo netminder Kenneth O’Malley were all equal to the shots fired at their goals.

Three years ago, the penalty spot was brought in from 13 metres to 11 as the odds were stacked too much in the goalkeeper’s favour.

O’Malley’s stop was significant as it was from opposite number Stephen Cluxton. Manager Jim Gavin defended the decision to give the Dublin captain the responsibility of taking it.

Meanwhile, the GAA were celebrating an excellent attendance weekend in Division 1.

A healthy 21,156 were in Croke Park to watch the Dublin-Mayo game on Saturday night. Tyrone’s win over Donegal was witnessed by 9,676 in Omagh, the Down-Cork game in Newry attracted approximately 2,500 while Newbridge was a 5,994 sell-out for Kildare and Kerry.

However, the Kildare County Board felt St Conleth’s Park could have held more than the 6,000 cap that was put on the grounds for health and safety reasons.

A crowd of 30,000-plus could turn up to watch next Sunday’s top of the table clash between Kildare and Dublin in Croke Park.