IRELAND GOALKEEPER CONOR O’Malley excelled with some individual FA Cup heroics on Tuesday night, producing three penalty saves in a shootout with Bradford to book Peterborough’s place in the next round.
The Westport native spent three seasons with St Patrick’s Athletic in the League of Ireland before earning a move to the League One outfit in August 2017 for an estimated fee of €100,000.
He received his first senior international call-up earlier this year, named in Martin O’Neill’s squad in May ahead of Ireland’s friendlies with France and the USA.
In a thrilling game on Tuesday, eight goals shared evenly saw the cup tie go through extra-time before a penalty shootout was required to decide a winner — striker Ivan Toney notching a hat-trick during an incredible night at Valley Parade.
The hosts came from 2-0 and 3-1 down during a pulsating affair, but an excellent display from 24-year-old O’Malley proved decisive during spot-kicks — the goalkeeper saving against all of Karl Henry, Jack Payne and Paul Caddis.
Peterborough will now face Middlesborough in the third round of the FA Cup.
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