It's highly likely that almost anybody reading this page will have attended a GAA match where one, or both, goalkeepers will have donned a jumper or a tracksuit top, either to alleviate a colour-clash with the opposition (though often the replacement garment will clash with his own team-mates) or simply because it is an early-season competition in the depths of winter and it is very cold to be just standing around in polyester.
Former Wexford goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry is probably the most notable practitioner in the genre, though his modern-day counterpart, and friend of the site, Éanna Martin, is not averse to it either. Training t-shirts, with or without bibs over them, have also been used when the opposition's jerseys have been too similar to a goalkeeper's, but in terms of sheer uniqueness, however, it is difficult to look beyond Cork's Patrick O'Shea in a 2009 McGrath Cup clash with CIT.
As the college side wear red and white hoops and the Cork goalkeeper top was very similar, just before throw-in it was deemed necessary for O'Shea to don something different, but seemingly alternatives were not that close at hand and the St Vincent's man had to wear a Ralph Lauren polo shirt (which he tells us was owned by Cork selector Ger O'Sullivan) in a nice shade of baby blue. Despite the absence of the GAA's logo, Cork were not penalised as far as we know. Replica versions were available, but only in Brown Thomas and House of Fraser.
Have you seen anything more unusual on a GAA pitch? Let us know on the comments page.
