Having saved three penalties against Shelbourne and Bray Wanderers this season, it came as no surprise that Stephen McGuinness was the shoot-out hero on an historic night for Cabinteely FC. The goalkeeper saved three spot-kick’s from Longford Town’s
Having saved three penalties against Shelbourne and Bray Wanderers this season, it came as no surprise that Stephen McGuinness was the shoot-out hero on an historic night for Cabinteely FC. The goalkeeper saved three spot-kick’s from Longford Town’s Jack Doherty, Aaron Dobbs and Paul O’Conor in a dramatic ending at the City Calling Stadium on Friday which allowed Rob Manley to convert the winning 12-yarder in the First Division 3rd v 4th Play-off second leg. “It was a fantastic team performance which was the most important thing. We came down knowing it going to be a physical battle. It really was a great game. 120 minutes is a long, long time to play a football match” he quipped. With the FAI Cup penalty shoot-out loss to Cork City still fresh in the mind, and the away side missing their first dead-ball, the goalkeeper said, “We couldn’t have a replay of Cork. You take each penalty as it comes. You try and read the body language. Luckily, I’ve gone the right way for three of them and saved them.” The Cabo club captain also insisted he had full confidence in leading goal-scorer Rob Manley slotting in the winning penalty. “When Rob was stepping up, there was never any doubt. I knew exactly he was going to score. The confidence he has had all season. He’s the top goal-scorer for a reason” smiled the 24-year-old. McGuinness praised the team ethic within Cabinteely as they failed to lose to Longford in five meetings during the 2019 season. “Especially away from home, we’ve been very, very good. Very consistent. We knew coming up we had a great away record, especially against Longford who are an excellent side.” The net-minder also heaped praise on his goalkeeping coach John Power and two young shot-stopping team-mates Peter Quinlan and Benjamin Clark. “John has been fantastic all season. The same with our goalkeeping community Peter and Ben. Everyone that’s involved in it has been absolutely amazing around me. Anyone who steps out onto the pitch is representing all of us as a team.” McGuinness will now lead Cabo further into the play-offs against his former club Drogheda United. “You have to look forward now. It’s a great feeling winning against Longford. But we have to come back down and go at it again in training. We have to try and put in the same level of performance against Drogheda.”
