Source: FOOTYMAD
Quirke: Dream come true
Teenage goalkeeper speaks about his debut. Coventry City's teenage goal keeper Michael Quirke, who made his debut for his home town club at Watford last Saturday, has spoken about his dream come true. Quirke will turn 19 next month and did not expect to be making his full debut for Coventry City for some time, but the injury to the emergency loan 'keeper Iain Turner meant that Quirke would get his chance earlier than expected. Coventry City have used four goalkeepers in three games, two of them on emergency loan, both having to return to their parent clubs soon after, Colin Doyle because Birmingham's Ben Foster was injured and Iain Turner because of the head injury he sustained at Watford. City's first choice 'keeper Keiren Westwood was ruled out because he was on compassionate leave following a family bereavement. Quirke's opportunity arrived early in the first half when a collision between Turner and Watford's Danny Graham left the Everton 'keeper concussed and with blood pouring out of a head wound. Quirke takes up the story saying, “When you’re the substitute goalkeeper you know that the chances are you won’t get a game, but you always have to prepare assuming that you’re going to play and that’s what I’ve been doing. It was very unfortunate the way it happened and I feel really sorry for Iain because he’s obviously a good keeper and he seems like a nice bloke." “I could see that he wasn’t going to be able to continue so I got my gloves and shin pads on and went out there. The last thing I can remember before I ran on is the manager saying ‘this is what you signed for." "I had a quick look round and that was it, I was making my debut in the Championship. It was lucky because we were defending the end where the City fans were and they gave me a fantastic cheer the first time I touched the ball which was a brilliant feeling.” Quirke was quickly into the action pulling off a fine, full stretch save from Marvin Sordell, but the conceded a goal that went past the young keeper. He later conceded a goal to former Coventry City player John Eustace to make the score 2-0 to Watford. Quirke commented, “The save was just about the first thing I had to do. I didn’t think about it, it was instinctive, pure reflex, but it obviously settled me down and gave me a lot of confidence." “I take responsibility for the first goal but I still think it was the right decision to go for the cross. I thought I was there for me to collect comfortably but it went over me and the lad put it in well." // '); // ]]> “It’s a bit of a knock when something like that happens, but the other lads helped me out and at half-time Steve Ogrizovic spoke to me and the gaffer just said ‘that’s gone, get rid of it!’ I wiped it out of my mind and I think I put in a good performance in the second half." "I don’t think there was too much I could have done about John Eustace’s goal, he went for it and all you can do is give him credit for connecting perfectly." " The manager had a lot of things on his mind because it was a very emotional day for him but he told me that he was pleased with me. He wasn’t happy with the performance as a whole and he had a word or two to say about that, but after we had taken that on board he said ‘right, that’s finished, you’ve shown a lot of character today and in the end you’ve come out of the game with a brilliant result.’” Sky Blues legend, now goalkeeping coach Steve Ogrizovic added his congratulations to Quirke who freely acknowledges the privilege it is to be coached by such a true Sky Blues legend. “I’ve been with Oggy for ten or 11 years,” said Quirke, “He’s always giving me advice and encouragement and I always try to take it on board because you couldn’t ask for anybody better to tell you how to deal with situations. “He’s watched me grow up and he was very happy for me, he said it proved that all the hard work has been worth it. I got a tremendous response from my friends and family after the game – loads of phone calls and text messages, and I’m loving it; I’m still on cloud nine, but I know that I’m still very young for a goalkeeper and that once the gaffer brings in a new number two I’ll be back playing for the reserves." “All I can do is keep working hard, keep concentrating, making sure my eyes stay on the target. I’ll keep listening to Oggy and keep learning from Keiren, who is a fantastic keeper." “It’s always been my dream to play for Coventry City, but I never thought I’d get a first-team game this early. The injury situation gave me my chance and I hope I did enough to impress the gaffer." “It was a strange game to play in but I did my best and I’ll make sure that if I do get another chance to prove myself I’ll grab it.”
