Darren Randolph’s importance to Ireland can’t be understated

He's as cool as a cucumber.

Ever since he was given his opportunity as Ireland's number-one goalkeeper in 2016, Darren Randolph hasn't put a foot wrong, or given Martin O'Neill anything near an option of dropping him, and that's why he's played every minute of our World Cup qualifying campaign to now. Ireland play a frantic type of game, with our defenders and midfielders hoofing the ball hopelessly up-field at any chance they get. It all means that we have so little possession, and opposition teams have a huge chance to plot their way through us and force us into last gasp defending. This is something Shane Duffy, Ciaran Clarke, Stephen Ward and Cyrus Christie do so well, but it's impossible to understate the importance of Randolph's calm demeanour in keeping these four sane in the cauldron they play in. It must be so assuring for Ireland's ten other players on the field, knowing that they have the always confident, never rash Randolph behind them. He was first called into action on Saturday by a thunderous Jens Stryger Larsen volley, and his reaction save to deny Cornelius on the rebound was lifesaving. https://twitter.com/RTEsoccer/status/929438260060934149 It's not just on the field he's so laid back, but off it, too, and true to his style, his man-of-the-match acceptance interview with Tony O'Donoghue on RTÉ was straight out of the fridge. His responses were as cliched as they come, but the cheeky smile that occupied his face spoke of a man knowing exactly what he's doing.

"Yeah, I knew I'd have something to do at some point, it was just depending on when," he began.

When asked about how he remains so calm in the eye of the storm, it was that same nonplussed response.

"You try and block it out as much as possible, and try and focus on the game," he said.

Damien Duff and Liam Brady were rightly singing his praises, with Duff's praise, particularly, striking a chord. Randolph has all those characteristics you want of a goalkeeper.

"Yeah, he was man-of-the-match tonight. He's a top notch keeper, he's cool, he's calm, he's collected, and he never looks fazed by anything, and that's the sign of a good keeper," said Duff.

Liam Brady emphasised his importance to Duffy and Clarke in front of him.

"He has a real good temperament. He has a real good relationship with his two central defenders. He doesn't come looking for trouble, or for balls he's not going to get," he added.

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