Buckley believes McGinty is league’s best keeper

Ed McGinty

Ed McGinty Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

Sligo Rovers manager Liam Buckley was thankful for his goalkeeper Ed McGinty on Friday night who pulled off several top class saves against Shamrock Rovers.

Buckley described McGinty as the top netminder in the League of Ireland and as good as any of the goalkeepers he has worked with during his 25 year managerial career.

“He's great, there's no two ways about it, he's the top goalkeeper in the league from my end of it,” said Buckley. “The saves he pulled off were world class. We're just glad we had him.

“We work with him on a daily basis, see him in training and all that sort of stuff and his shot-stopping is great, his kicking is great and his all-round game is really good. I've no doubt he'll get a proper career out of it.”

McGinty’s displays in goal for Sligo Rovers will continue the chatter about a move away from the Showgrounds for the 22 year old goalkeeper. 

“He has the potential (to take up an offer elsewhere), like the other two Johnny Kenny (Celtic) and John Mahon (St. Johnstone); he'd be certainly in that league, that's for sure."

Buckley’s team were 2-0 up inside a half an hour in Tallaght and there was an onslaught by the home team who had 27 shots in the match. 

The Bit O’ Red had conceded just two goals so far this season prior to their visit to Tallaght and McGinty can’t be faulted for the two the Hoops scored in the second half to earn a point – the first a Graham Burke penalty and the second an own goal off Adam McDonnell.



“Listen, it's a good point coming up here. If you get ahead of Shamrock Rovers this year (in the season ending table), you're going to win the league. That's how it is. In fairness to Rovers, all the chances they had, the balls in the box, the least they deserved was a draw.”

The Hoops have only lost one home game in the league since June 2019. That loss was to Sligo Rovers last May. It looked like the Bit O’ Red were going to make it two wins in three visits to Tallaght but Buckley’s side was fortuitous with the 2-0 at the break according to Buckley. 

“The way the game went, I couldn't believe we were 2-0 up at half-time for starters. The first 10 or 15 minutes, I've just said to the boys inside, you can't afford to do that, you won't win f*** all, excuse my French. 

“We do need to be better on the ball, we need to be more courageous. We do have quite a few new players in the group, including a brand new front three, but they're all picking it up fairly quickly and we're still unbeaten after six games which is not too bad.”

Going into the international break, the Bit O’ Red sit second in the table level on points with St. Pat’s and two behind Derry City. They are a point ahead of fourth placed Shamrock Rovers and have a game in hand on both the Saints and the Hoops. 

“There's not too many teams that will come up to Tallaght and get anything. I'm delighted with a point because it keeps the momentum going from our point of view. 



“It's a lesson learned now, the second half. We didn't do enough. The lines were too deep. We weren't constructive enough with our passing. Chances in the second half were few and far between.

"We had two shots on goal in the second half. We need to be better on the ball and we need to be braver on the ball.”

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile