Richard Keogh has returned from Euro 2016 and is refusing to let up.
The Irish defender is not content with leaving his 2016 highs at the memorable Italy victory or mixing it with Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann. He is certainly enjoying the EFL [League] Cup, scoring in the last round against Grimsby.
Keogh was at it again, last night, as he helped his Derby County team advance to the third round.
County looked set for a 1-0 win when Michael Jones got a 95th minute equaliser for Carlisle United. Extra time could not separate the sides so the game went to penalties – 32 of them, to be precise.
County had only selected five penalty-takers for the shootout but Keogh, their trusty centre-half, was No.5. With his team trailing 4-3, Keogh needed to score to send the shootout to sudden death. He tucked one into the bottom left-hand corner, no bother.
On and on it went. Scott Carson, the Derby goalkeeper, saved two attempts and scored when his number was up.
At 13-12 down, Keogh was handed the ball again. Up he glid, stroking the ball home to the identical spot in that left-hand corner.
Carlisle cracked as Joe McKee had his penalty saved. Timi Max Elsnik stepped up and made it 14-13 and end the joint record longest penalty shootout in English football history.
If Martin O’Neill needs a penalty-taker for Ireland’s upcoming World Cup Qualifiers, and beyond, he could do a lot worse than ask Keogh. When O’Neill spoke about Ireland’s worst penalty takers, he could not have meant this stone-cold killer:
WATCH: Richard Keogh looks a bit sheepish as Martin O'Neill discusses Ireland's worst penalty takers https://t.co/0viXsV2ewv
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 25, 2016
No way.
On the latest GAA Hour we look back at Mayo-Tipperary and chat to Andy Moran about his incredible, never-ending career. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
