Watch: Ireland’s Charlie Smyth kicks stunning 56-yard field goal on NFL debut for New Orleans Saints
Charlie Smyth attempts an onside kick against the Miami Dolphins
Down’s Charlie Smyth marked his NFL debut as a kicker by nailing a 56-yard field goal and also put his New Orleans Saints team in with a chance of staging of remarkable recovery, before they ultimately fell short against the Miami Dolphins.
The 24-year-old from Mayobridge looked like he would have a quiet NFL debut, with his sole contribution to the first-half being the opening kick-off as the Saints struggled to gain a foothold.
However, Smyth’s moment came with six minutes and 13 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the Saints trailing 19-8 when he landed a superb 56-yard field goal to bring his side back to within eight points.
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They then scored a touchdown to close the gap to two points with a minute 13 seconds remaining but, for the second time in the game, chose to attempt a two-point conversion (when the ball is either run or thrown into the endzone), rather than have Smyth kick the extra-point.
The tactic backfired spectacularly as the Dolphins intercepted and returned the ball to the opposite endzone to earn two points of their own and stretch the scoreline to 21-17.
This meant that Smyth had to attempt an onside kick where the kicker has to kick the ball 10 yards or further and find one of his own players as the defence lie in wait. The NFL average for such kicks being successful is just seven per cent, however, and Smyth’s effort evaded Miami hands and found the arms of a Saints team-mate to give them hope.
However, they were unable to get themselves into a position for a winning touchdown meaning Smyth’s debut ended in defeat, albeit one in which he acquitted himself as well as possible.
