Dubliner Michael Doyle credited his GAA roots after he was forced to go in goal early on in Nott's County's 3-1 victory over Dagenham last night.
Doyle, 39, stepped up when goalkeeper Sam Slocombe was sent off after just 18 minutes.
Newport were 1-0 up at the time and a resilient display saw them stay on top and go 3-0 up.
Doyle made a number of fine saves before conceding one goal late on.
Six minutes of pure joy. pic.twitter.com/I83gI9rEpL
— Notts County FC (@Official_NCFC) February 9, 2021
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One of the key saves, just before half-time, was from just yards out from goal.
Speaking after the League Two clash, Doyle said: “A couple of weeks ago, I was playing centre-half in training in one of the games and the gaffer and Greg [Abbott, assistant manager] were saying: ‘We might have to put you in there if it comes to injuries.’
“I said 'ah, no problem'. I was thinking: ‘The older I’m getting, the further back I’m going,’ but I didn’t think I’d bloody end up in goal!
“I played a lot of Gaelic when I was younger with my brothers and that up in our local GAA club, St Mark’s in Tallaght where I grew up, and I loved it. And thank God for all those years playing Gaelic, catching the ball...it kind of came in handy.
“To be fair, the lads in front of me were amazing. It was a joy to watch them tonight with 10 men, the way they played. All the credit goes to them.”
