Being a goalkeeper is a bastard.
Which is a shame, because goalkeepers tend to be sound old skins. David Clarke is a decent fella and very honest when discussing his rivalry with Rob Hennelly in the run-up to the drawn All-Ireland final.
Hennelly is another nice guy. Funny and little off-beat, he seems to have the genuine affection and respect of his team-mates.
That much was obvious in the immediate aftermath of Mayo’s gut-wrenching 1-15 to 1-14 replay defeat to Dublin.
Hard not to feel for Robbie Hennelly #DUBvMAYO pic.twitter.com/fwuAAl8pVY
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 1, 2016
They rallied around their goalkeeper in his darkest hour.
Shown a black card early in the second half, the 26-year-old Breaffy man could only watch from the sideline as Diarmuid Connolly blasted a penalty beyond his replacement, friend and rival Clarke.
Hennelly was sent to the line after what can only be described as monumental error. Paul Flynn played a diagonal ball that was dropping harmlessly into an unoccupied large parallelogram as the goalkeeper came out to claim it.
Unfortunately the ball slipped through his hands, bounced off his shoulder and into the path of Paddy Andrews. The Dublin forward had a glimpse at goal as Hennelly dragged him down.
You could argue a red card but the black card and a penalty brought small mercies. Hennelly could be replaced by Clarke and end a miserable day.
Black card for Rob Hennelly
It's harsh, but it's not exactly bad news for Mayo— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) October 1, 2016
Even before the penalty incident, his kick-outs – the reason for which he was selected – were not working. Too many times he was leaving his target with too much to do. Some went straight to Dublin men.
Stephen Rochford gambled and lost. But the biggest loser was Hennelly.
The man will forever be haunted by that one mistake. Outfielders drop a ball and people throw their hands into the air, goalkeepers drop a ball and the same hands are reaching for pitchforks and torches.
But he should never have been there in the first place.
Clarke was a shoo-in for All-Star goalkeeper following the drawn game. Okay, his kick-outs went a bit haywire in the closing stages, but he was trying to outsmart the best football team of the decade. That can happen.
He is big, strong, commanding in the air, quick off his line and a wonderful shot-stopper. He did not deserve to be dropped for the replay, no more than Hennelly deserved to be parachuted in, having not played a competitive inter-county match since the Connacht SFC semi-final defeat to Galway.
It was a gamble by Rochford and the only winners were Dublin. The manager lost, Mayo lost, Clarke lost but most of all Hennelly lost.
It was hard not to feel sorry for him. Even Twitter was able to show a little sympathy.
Feel sorry for Hennelly. Can happen to anyone on any stage. Clarke still the all star keeper IMO. Should never have been dropped. #DUBvMAYO
— Peter Boyle (@ThePeterBoyle1) October 1, 2016
Robbie Hennelly should hold his head high. Good enough to get on the mayo team, has had many great performances and more will come #Mayo ⚽
— Bill Cagney (@billcagney) October 1, 2016
feel so sorry for Hennelly. Goalies get too much credit at times but too much blame too when it goes wrong – onerous position
— clíona foley (@ponyyelof) October 1, 2016
Hennelly didn't cost Mayo. Rochford did by picking him. Simple. #gaa #DUBvMAYO
— Pat O'Connell (@patoc37) October 1, 2016
There is more to life then sport! Feel so sorry for Rob Hennelly and his people! He and Mayo will come again!
— Shane Dowling (@dowlerznap) October 1, 2016
Terribly sad for Mayo. Tragic. Despair and pain. Not Rob Hennelly's fault, terrible management error. Dubs are greats now. #Curse #DUBvMAYO
— Oliver Callan (@olivercallan) October 1, 2016
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