Gaffer marvels at Sligo’s cup final keeper switch

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI and Marco Tardelli had rather different takes on Ciaran Kelly’s starring role as a substitute keeper in Sligo Rovers’ penalty shoot-out win in the FAI Cup final on Sunday.

Both men attended the game and, according to Trapattoni, his assistant’s instinctive reaction to Paul Cook’s decision was “shit, shit”. But, after discussing it further with Ireland’s goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly, Trapattoni reckons there was more method than madness to Cook’s thinking..

“Last year, he (Kelly) saved four. I think perhaps my colleague (Cook) was thinking about the psychological impact on the opposition players taking the penalties. They knew that this was a goalkeeper who was bravo at saving penalties. I wouldn’t do it, out of respect for the (original) goalkeeper, but maybe this is what my colleague was thinking.”