Northern Irish hero seeking move can draw inspiration from Mexico’s own McGovern

Mikey Stafford

Spare a thought for Hamilton Academical, who will quite likely lose their goalkeeper on the back of Tuesday night.

The Scottish Premiership side avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth and would have been proud that goalkeeper Michael McGovern was heading off to the European Championships.

However with no agreement reached on a new deal they could have done without the Fermanagh man having a career-defining performance against the World Champions in Paris.

The 31-year-old was almost unbeatable – Mario Gomez scoring the only goal of the game after a Thomas Muller dribble had forced the former Celtic academy player to commit himself, only for the Bayern man to cleverly shift the ball to his team-mate.

All Ireland happy as another heroic Michael take focus off manager O'Neill #GERNIR #EURO2016 https://t.co/ulc2hp5ZiW

— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 21, 2016

But that was it. Otherwise McGovern was a fluorescent yellow wall, at some point denying almost every German attacking player with a save of breath-taking agility, bravery or instinct. A late strong fingertip to a Joshua Kimmich header was arguably the highlight of a lengthy highlight reel.

Afterwards his manager Michael O’Neill confirmed that McGovern has yet to agree a new deal with Hamilton, which brought back memories of another epic goalkeeping performance at a major tournament.

“He is a very hard-working lad and he has been very patient to get this opportunity and I hope that,” said O’Neill. “Wherever he is playing his football next season, he deserves the opportunity to play at a top, top club.”

In 2014 Mexico travelled to an emotional Fortaleza for an memorable meeting with World Cup hosts Brazil. For 90 minute they frustrated the Selecao, thanks chiefly to little known back-up keeper Guillermo Ochoa.

Afterwards it became apparent that the then 28-year-old was out of contract with Ligue 1 minnows Ajaccio. After another couple of star turns the Mexican had earned a move to Malaga.

That said, O’Neill credits McGovern’s current employers with providing him with the practice he needed to face the Germans.

“He has been playing at Hamilton Academicals, which is a very small club but one which has survived the last two seasons in the Scottish Premier League. Michael McGovern is a big part of the reason why he survived,” said the former Shamrock Rovers boss.

“He is worth at least 15 points a season to his club. No doubt about that. He has shown on the international stage again what a top-class international goalkeeper he is and I’m delighted for him because he is a very humble lad.”

Michael McGovern is not stupid. He plays for Hamilton Academical – he is used to making saves.

Players gave keeper a round of applause

— Mikey Stafford (@me_stafford) June 21, 2016

For his part, Jogi Low did a rather unconvincign job of claiming he knew all about McGovern before his star turn.

“Of course I have heard of him before and we have analysed the opponent. I have to compliment him. He has really kept the goal and showed great reflexes,” said the World Cup-winning coach.

“Three or four times completely alone in the goal. He has shown a great effort, yes.”

As for Ochoa? He conceded seven against Chile at the Copa America and has made just 11 league appearances for Malaga in two seasons. But he will always have that night in Fortaleza – just as McGovern will always have Paris.