The umpire was ducking for cover.
Na Piarsaigh goalkeeper Podge Kennedy would have made a decent high jumper in another life. But for now, he’s the goalkeeper for his club and he’s doing a good job there.
Less than three weeks after that crushing All-Ireland final replay loss to Cuala, the Treaty county kingpins were straight back into the thick of it with the first round of their club championship campaign taking place against Doon on Sunday.
As expected, the back to back seeking city club emerged victorious from their Gaelic Grounds battle. That was in no small part due to the heroics of their spring heeled number one Kennedy.
Under the guidance of new manager Paul Beary, Na Piarsaigh’s firepower in attack was too much for their rivals, with Shane Dowling, Kevin Downes and Adrian Breen all in explosive form at the other end.
It was all about the man manning the nets however, and his stunning save from the Doon full forward on the stroke of full time.
The number 14 must have wondered what more he could have done as he unleashed a bullet shot from the 21 yard line that was wisping through the air all the way towards the top corner.
No stopping that, surely?
With all the acrobatics of Javier Sotomayor in his pomp, however, and the hand eye co-ordination of Kilkenny’s Eoin Murphy, the Na Piarsaigh number one flung his body from one corner of his goals to the other before keeping the sliotar out with the nose of his hurl.
The pulling off of such a save should not be underestimated. The combination of propelling your body over such a distance while keeping your eyes firmly fixated on the sliotar is something that only a select few can accomplish.
Video Credit: TG4 GAA Beo.
The ferocity and power of the strike only makes the save better, and this was underlined by the reaction of the umpire who was lunging out of its course with all the flexibility of Kennedy despite a net covering him.
He’s some man to have between the sticks.
You can watch the rest of the game’s highlights here, with a point from one of the game’s best supersubs in Pat Ryan, certainly worth the watch.
Na Piarsaigh have beaten Doon in a goal fest in the Gaelic Grounds! Watch the Full-Time Highlights here on GAANOW! pic.twitter.com/wCJj3I1tV8
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 22, 2018
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