Penalties are far from a perfect way to decide games, but with replays off the menu, they’re here to stay
Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton saves a penalty from Shane McPartlan of Armagh during the Ulster final shoot-out. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
As they stood in line, arms linked in the customary manner, Kieran McGeeney cut a resigned figure in Clones last Sunday. The drama of the penalty shoot-out hadn’t started but he’d seen it all before. He looked like a man who felt destined to live the horror all over again.
Armagh lost the match, less forgivably, in normal time when four points up and failing to bury Donegal. They lost it again in extra time when two points clear and not seeing it out. But they still could have won it in the third and final act, with unrivalled experience of pressurised penalty shoot-outs.
