Football

Down’s Charlie Smyth kicks game-winner and gets game ball on his debut for the New Orleans Saints

The Down and Mayobridge goalkeeper was given a rousing reception by his teammates when he kicked the winner for the NFL franchise

Charlie Smyth pictured with the ball he kicked to win the game for the New Orleans Saints. PICTURE: Layne Murdoch Jr
Charlie Smyth pictured with the ball he kicked to win the game for the New Orleans Saints. PICTURE: Layne Murdoch Jr
By Liam Grimley

CHARLIE Smyth seems to have taken to the NFL like a duck to water after kicking the game-winning field goal in last night’s preseason victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Down goalkeeper hadn’t kicked a field goal in a game before when he stepped up with seconds left in Glendale to win the game 16-14.

He seemed to embody calmness as he stepped up to the mark and slotted the kick away with ease in a high-pressure situation to win the game of the Louisiana-based team.

In the course of the game, Smyth impressed during the NFL’s new kick-off setup, which places more emphasis on kickers and their ability to kick far, something the Mayobridge man has excelled at throughout his trials and training.

During the warm-up, he was seen kicking a 66-yard field goal, that is the NFL in-game record distance.

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After coming through the NFL’s International Player Pathway, Smyth signed for the New Orleans Saints at the end of March this year.

Charlie Smyth punches the air after making the winning field goal, his first in American football, against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL preseason
Charlie Smyth punches the air after making the winning field goal, his first in American football, against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL preseason. PICTURE: Christian Verde

Since then, he has attended the preseason training with the Saints in California and integrated himself in the culture of New Orleans and getting to know the team.

In a press conference after the game, he received praise from both the head coach, Dennis Allen, and the team’s starting quarterback, Derek Carr.

Allen said: “I felt good about him hitting the distance, I wasn’t worried about that at all.

“I thought it was awesome, his first kick not in an NFL game but an American football game and for him to knock it through like that in a pressure situation was cool to see.”

Carr, who has been an NFL quarterback for 10 years, also shared his excitement at the moment when Smyth kicked his first points.

“I hope someone has the most awkward high-five I have ever received in my life... I’m lucky I didn’t break my hand,” he said.

“He told us, I didn’t know this, a year ago he had never kicked a football. That’s something he’ll remember forever.”

Charlie Symth getting congratulated on his game-winning field goal which earned him the gameball, which is presented by the head coach to the player of the match. PICTURE: Layne Murdoch Jr
Charlie Symth getting congratulated on his game-winning field goal which earned him the gameball, which is presented by the head coach to the player of the match. PICTURE: Layne Murdoch Jr

After the game, echoes of U2 could be heard coming from the Saints’ locker room and Smyth was handed the game ball for his performance that would fool any fan into thinking he had been doing this forever.

The game ball is usually given to a player whose performance stood out to the head coach and serves as a man of the match award of sorts.

Smyth’s debut followed Derry and Swatragh’s Jude McAtamney’s debut for the New York Giants on Thursday evening.

Smyth’s next game will be against the San Francisco 49ers at 1am next Monday, August 19.