SUNDAY’S SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP fixture involving Motherwell and Hearts provided Colin Doyle with a harsh reminder of the unforgiving nature of life between the posts. It’s a thin line that separates a goalkeeper from being a hero or a villain.
Doyle had kept Hearts in the contest with a string of fine saves, with the Edinburgh outfit looking likely to leave Fir Park with a 1-1 draw as the game entered stoppage time.
Hearts then had Ben Garuccio sent off for a foul approximately 30 yards out from goal, which handed an opportunity to Motherwell to snatch a late victory.
David Turnbull managed to beat the wall with the subsequent free-kick. His strike was relatively tame, but Doyle failed to read the ball as it bounced in front of him. It ended up in the back of the net and the narrative changed in an instant for the Ireland goalkeeper.
Having been seconds away from being hailed for his contribution to earning Hearts a valuable point on the road, Doyle suddenly became the man held responsible for gifting Motherwell the win.
Hearts keeper, Colin Doyle, better look away now... 🙈 pic.twitter.com/6puk3d0B4Z
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) February 18, 2019
“Colin is disappointed, as we all are,” Hearts manager Craig Levein told reporters. “He held his hands up. He’s made a mistake in a game which we were in good control of.
“Colin has been doing okay and I don’t have any complaints. We just have to pick ourselves up and go again next week.”
Doyle joined Hearts last summer after two seasons with Bradford City. The 33-year-old Corkman has started the club’s last 10 games in succession after overtaking Czech international Zdenek Zlamal as first-choice goalkeeper.
Acknowledging his costly error on Twitter, Doyle said: “Gutted about [the] ending and result. No excuses. I cost us a point. I’ll learn from it and move on.”
Doyle has won four senior caps for Ireland, the most recent of which came in a 2-1 friendly win against USA last June.
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Why is there a Hollywood star in the picture lads?
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Didn’t go for glory at the end either, just passed the ball on to COB to put the game away. Israel Folau should take note.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: sporting icon
Fair play to Leinster, it got sticky in a game that should have been straight forward but they hung in there and got the job done and came home with the bonus point win. There were some very average performances in the first half, especially from the all international front row who were all outplayed but the half time chat got them all more focussed. Fardy did well and Deegan put in some big numbers. Thought o brien did well at 12 too and so did Gibson Park. Perfect result for Cullen, maximum points but plenty of work ons for the young lads come Monday morning.
Porter is one of the most overrated players at the moment. Has little to no influence over a game and is average at best. Without bias to munster I would put him below stephen archer
@The_Muffin_Man: good joke im sure stephen archer is in the ireland squad too
@The_Muffin_Man: well for the bench, Ryan a better all round option maybe.
@The_Muffin_Man: about time someone called this. Porter is really struggling for form at the moment and it’s a worry if Furlong gets injured. The gulf is massive
@The_Muffin_Man: what absolute shite talk. Porter is still firmly 2 for Ireland.
@The_Muffin_Man: I cringe watching him trot around the park. Nothing in open play but excellent in the scrum.
@The_Muffin_Man: 1 bad game, he is a class ahead of Ryan. Deluded
Carty has to start against Italy
@Anthony: why?
@Jim Demps: Because he’s a Connacht player and Anthony is extremely biased towards Connacht players.
@Ian Verdon: had he led with Ultan Dillane, he would have snapped up 50 recs by now. Dillane was outstanding. Looks like he’s really enjoying his rugby.
@grandslamkbo: Yeah dillane is back to his destructive best, it’s brilliant to see. His carriers were so explosive tonight and I would love him to start against Italy.
@Ian Verdon: haha keep biting lads lol
Lucky lucky boys
@rowan hill: A lucky 16 point, 6 try win away? I’ll take it!
@Oval Digest: Yep. They really dicked about in those 10 minutes before half time. Lost composure everywhere and the state of that Dave Kearney ‘tackle’ for the 3rd Zebre try!! Their conference is as good as over but some of the players are trying to get back in the national squad. They need to do much better. But, like you, I’ll take it. Plenty of home games left aswell.
10 points from securing 1st place at this stage. The league is brutal at stages (teams not sending teams to win away) tied in with Leinster being very good in others.
Watched it again, COB , Doris, deagan and moloney where all very good.
The best player on the pitch was JGP. His box kicks were very good and not for the first time this season set up a box kick and sniped a sneaky pass from the base allowing massive yards
You might aswell have called them “Zebra”