Stephen O’Keeffe – ‘The Manuel Neuer of hurling.’
Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe is completely redefining the role of the goalkeeper.
Many might call O’Keeffe a goalkeeper who has dreams of being an outfielder, but we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Waterford receive plenty of criticism for their defensive style of play, for their use of Tadhg De Búrca as a sweeper, well with Stephen O’Keeffe in goals, they might as well have two of them.
Tadhg De Búrca operates in a withdrawn defensive role sweeping up between the full and half-back line, but if De Búrca ever misses a trick, the marauding goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe has got it covered.
The Ballygunner man provides a service to his defenders that so many of them must dream of.
His alertness, his reading of the game, his selflessness and his instant response to danger or to the struggles of his defenders surely raises the bar for all other goalkeepers.
The 26-year-old has been offering himself up as a ‘here if you need me’ outlet for Waterford’s outfielders for quite a while now, but they never got more use of him than in Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter final against Wexford.
The former Waterford I.T student must have the focus and concentration of a scientist because he’s always on call.
This ever-ready approach was never more apparent than in the 54th minute of the game when a Mark Fanning puck-out – A standard one, it was nothing out of the ordinary, unusually and surprisingly made it’s way over the heads of the Waterford half-back line, and scurried dangerously down the sideline.
Stephen O’Keeffe, as can be seen here had read the danger before it was even dangerous – He was sprinting out along the end line to make himself available for with Kevin Moran under pressure from Wexford attackers.
If O’Keeffe had stayed on his goal-line, like the majority of goalkeepers would, Moran would have turned around to the pressure of three hungry Wexford attackers.
Instead, a Waterford attack was set up.
Simple, but so effective.
As it turned out, he got the ball and belted it up field to kick start a Waterford attack.
This wasn’t the only time O’Keeffe gave a helping hand to a Waterford man in need.
As early as the sixth minute, a ball broke down the Waterford wing to Austin Gleeson. Instead of turning around to start an attack, when he had loads of time and space, he looked for O’Keeffe.
The confidence these Waterford lads hold in their net minder is clearly demontrated by Shane Fives and Tadhg De Búrca both encouraging Gleeson to give the ball back to O’Keeffe. They know he’ll do the right thing.
It makes sense too, though, because a goalkeeper, in a situation like this, won’t be under as much pressure as an outfielder, and should have the time and composure to pick out the perfect pass.
The role of a goalkeeper is changing. You’re no longer just a shot-stopper, you have to be confident on the ball, you have to distribute.
What O’Keeffe has created, however, is that a goalkeeper has to be reading the game and ready to sprint, ready to offer himself up.
