Cluxton does not reveal his secrets in 'Rare' comments

AS IF to prove he can actually speak, Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton has provided some short and naturally sweet comments for the book, A Rare Auld Season – a mostly photographic record of their 2011 All-Ireland winning campaign, which is published today.

Cluxton is, however, still keeping much of his true thoughts to himself, as he merely skirts around the edges of what it meant to win their first All-Ireland since 1995 – and indeed his tactics as Dublin goalkeeper.

“I treat all games equally,” he says. “No one game is more important than any other. If we didn’t treat the semi-final as important as the final, we wouldn’t have been contesting the final. What Kerry did or didn’t do cannot be thought about coming into a game. Kick-outs are not the sole responsibility of the goalkeeper; it involves the co-ordination of the defence and midfield to work.”

As for Colm Cooper’s first-half goal that appeared to give Kerry a decisive advantage, Cluxton asks: “Rocked? It didn’t seem to me that it fazed anyone on the pitch. We went up the field and hit the next couple of points.

“The management worked hard on steeling the players throughout the year. Games last for 70-odd minutes, it happened at the ideal time. Games take place over 70 minutes, if you are not focused for the 70 minutes, you don’t win.”

Cluxton then describes Dublin’s late goal – from Kevin McManamon – and his own match-winning free: “Declan O’Sullivan came out with the ball, gave a poor handpass, I think, and Alan picked it up, Kevin was running at pace and Alan slipped it to him.”

He concludes by saying he wasn’t surprised to be asked to take the final free: “No. I was the designated free-taker. You go through your routine, nothing else matters. One free is just as important as the next.”

And that’s it – his secrets still safe, apparently.