No gloves, no positional sense, no desire to play in goals.
Paul Courtney is a fine footballer.
He was on the Armagh panel a few years back. As an outfielder.
Both he and Charlie Vernon were renowned ball-players in their college days at Queen’s in Belfast. As midfielders.
On Sunday though, Kieran McGeeney recalled the Ballyhegan native for Armagh’s opening championship clash with Cavan. As a goalkeeper.
Chat in Breffni here that Paul Courtney is going to be in nets. He hasn't ever done goalie before to any of our knowledge.
— Declan Bogue (@DeclanBogue) May 29, 2016
Yeah, Paul Courtney is the Armagh goalkeeper today. Just confirmed. Formerly of Ballyhegan, now St Judes. From fairly left-field that one.
— Declan Bogue (@DeclanBogue) May 29, 2016
It didn’t look the most natural thing in the world.
Courtney’s goalkeeping attire was unconventional and his play was unbelievable.
It started with no gloves.
Then he started playing short kickouts and going for the return like a sevens ‘keeper.
Then he just started hanging around out the field to see what would happen.
This is not a goalkeeper.
He tried to make a stop without the gloves.
After that? Well then he just decided he wasn’t playing in goals anymore.
He faced off with Martin Reilly for a second half penalty but had no luck.
If no gloves weren’t enough, the sight of a goalkeeper wondering around the opposition 45′ had the GAA community spitting out its collective tea.
Is the Armagh goalie wearing no gloves? #Gaa
— Darren Murphy (@darrenm527) May 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/MaradonaSlide/status/736925279579410432
This Armagh goalie is such a header.. Not wearing any gloves and running out after kickouts 👀
— Brendan McCole (@bmccole111) May 29, 2016
Even the experts were weighing in.
Armagh keeper playing With No Gloves #oldschool
— Anthony Masterson (@antomasterson1) May 29, 2016
Fly goalkeeper time in the GAA..
— Anthony Masterson (@antomasterson1) May 29, 2016
According to Mr Brolly, Courtney was brought into the panel just two weeks ago and was clearly used by Kieren McGeeney for a strategy to run the ball from deep and restart the games quicker.
It didn’t pay dividends but not because of his individual performance. Armagh just weren’t at the races and went six points down by the time half time came around and lost 2-16 to 0-14 in the end.
