Throughout this year's league, the use of 'fly-keepers' became more and more prominent. While it is not an entirely new concept, it is a rising one as everyone from Rory Beggan, Stephen Cluxton and Graham Brody regularly abandoned their square to drive out the field.
Tonight Mayo's juniors took on Roscommon in the Connacht Junior Championship. In the dying minutes Mayo trailed the Rossies 1-14 to 1-17. Mattie Flanagan was introduced off the bench for Jarlath Trench’s side but played as an outfield player. Chasing the game Mayo used the extra man out the field to create an overlap and it paid dividends when Ciaran Boylan, son of former Meath manager Sean, landed a goal after five minutes of extra time to secure a 2-15 to 1-17 win.
What a ballsy move - mayo bring on Mattie Flanagan he plays outfield with no keeper creates an overlap for an injury time goal to beat Ross in Junior champ #mayogaa pic.twitter.com/UQ02AnckMW
— Colm Gannon (@ColmGannon) May 2, 2018
Matty Flanagan for president @RefComeOn @mayonewssport @MayoGAA #FlyGoalie #Rossiessacked
— Seán Mulvaney (@SeanMulvaney1) May 2, 2018
BOOM!!!! The #mayogaa Juniors with a master tactical stroke bringing on their sub goalie @MattyFlanMan into their back line late on & win it with the last kick of the game. #winnerwinner pic.twitter.com/O0Nx9SG8xs
— Paul Cunnane (@p_cunnane) May 2, 2018
Incredible scenes in Castlebar! Ciaran Boylan (son of former Meath manager Sean) has just scored a goal five minutes into added time to give @MayoGAA Junior footballers a 2-15 to 1-17 win over Roscommon! Mayo played last few mins with a fly-goalie! #mayogaa #GAA pic.twitter.com/MlBWeixGWc
— Mayo News - Sport (@mayonewssport) May 2, 2018
Scenes in McHale Park by @MattyFlanMan .. there was method behind all the madness 🙈 @MayoGAA
— Francis Regan (@francisregan2) May 2, 2018
A happy man after watching his son score the late late winner for @MayoGAA Juniors! @MeathGAA and @officialgaa legend Sean Boylan in Castlebar tonight. pic.twitter.com/l4KayIZu8h
— Mid West Radio (@radiomidwest) May 2, 2018
Boom boom!! Behind by 2 at 32mins, Junior Manager pulls a complete & utter stroke to bring on sub goalie Matty Flanagan into the backs. Mayo go on to win by a point with the very last kick of the game. #WinnerwinnerChickenDinner #Mayogaa 💚❤
— L. NíHéineacháin (@LaobhaoiseNihE) May 2, 2018
It was a bold move and while it is hard to know if anyone will deploy it to that extreme come the senior Championship, we will certainly see more fly goalkeepers. As long as the number one is comfortable with ball in hand, the tactic is easily implemented and an ideal ploy in order to orchestrate an overlap.
