The kick would not have been easy even for a player who was kicking like a dream. To be fighting demons with your kicking game and still land the match-winner says a lot for Jack Carty’s character.
Connacht were down to one fit, senior outhalf heading into a crucial, crucial Champions Cup tie with Wasps.
The Premiership side had defeated the westerners at the Ricoh Arena on the previous weekend and looked set to double the dose. Connacht were 18-13 down in the final throes of a riveting game when debutant Naulia Dawai got the ball down off a maul driven over the Wasps line.
18-18 and up stepped Carty for a touchline conversion. He had missed a penalty earlier in the game [and two in that Wasps defeat] but he had also landed a few others over the two games. He chose to focus on the positives.
Over it went and Connacht had completed a stunning turnaround to win 20-18 and keep their quarter final chances very much alive and very much kicking.
Another incredible night in the Sportsground 👊🏼We just about did enough and @JackCarty1 saw us home 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VCrALtJ5Zt
— Matt Healy (@heals102) December 18, 2016
Following the game, Carty told reporters what was going through his mind as the pressure ramped way up. He said:
“You are obviously aware of [the doubts and criticism]. I try to block it out, when maybe when I was younger last year or the year before those things might have gotten to me.”
He added, “It was about not hitting around the ball but kicking through it. On the first one, that’s what happened. I kind of kicked around it and dragged it left and then the next four I kicked them in the sweet spot and they went straight then.”
Carty was well aware from early last week that he would be the man with all the kicking responsibilities heaped on his shoulders. Even scrum-half John Cooney, who has taken a number of kicks this season, was left off the Connacht bench.
Alone he stood. But there was support available – former Connacht No.10, and coach, Eric Elwood was on hand for advice and there was a visit from Ireland’s skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy.
Out on the pitch though, it was just Carty, his wits and the uttered prayers and promises of thousands of Connacht supporters.
It was enough. For Carty, though, there are more challenges ahead.
“I’m under no illusions about the work-ons I have to do,” he commented.
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