Back-heeled goal goes viral

More of your fancy stuff


Edwin McGreal

THERE are a couple of rules attached to trying anything ‘fancy’ on a Gaelic football field. First of all, make sure it comes off. God help any player who tries a scoop pick-up only to lose possession. ‘Bend your back’ will be the roar from all sides of the ground.
Even success is no guarantee. I remember being at an underage training session when the goalie, myself, was chipped by a forward for a cheeky goal. I was embarrassed but the forward was immediately told by the manager that if he so much as tried that in a game, he’d be substituted straight away.
But, despite the bleating of traditionalists, there are moments where trying something ‘fancy’ is the percentage option. Some people gave out about Darran O’Sullivan’s back-heeled goal against Limerick in the 2011 All-Ireland quarter-final, but it was the only way he could actually connect with the ball, given that the pass he was reacting to was behind him.
Mark Ronaldson showed how necessity is the mother of invention the weekend before last. And his ‘fancy’ skills were captured by cameraman John Murphy at a challenge game between Shrule/Glencorrib and Galway neighbours Caherlistrane.
The clip has gone viral via sporting humour site www.balls.ie and it’s easy to see why. A long ball from James Lohan finds its way to former Mayo forward Ronaldson, via some rather poor defending, and he’s one on one with the goalkeeper. However, with the ball on the deck and the ’keeper having cut off much of the angle, the chance seems to have gone until Ronaldson improvises marvellously.
From the right side of the goal, he back-heels the ball with his right foot into the far corner. You’ll have to see it to do it justice, but it was a moment of sublime skill. The video also shows another goal in the game by Ronaldson where he performs a perfect ‘scoop-lift’ before rifling the ball into the net.
Of course, the other rule of pulling off such skills in a game is watch your back afterwards. We believe Mark Ronaldson lived to tell the tale, but we know of some goalkeepers and corner backs who fall victim to such skill getting their retribution in before the day is out. And there’s nothing skillful about their revenge.
The video can be viewed at http://balls.ie/gaa/the-best-finished-gaa-youll-see-this-year/.