There are some who swear you could have nipped outside onto Westgate Street for a burger as Paul Thorburn struck his monster goal-kick against Scotland in 1986 and still made it back inside the old National Stadium to see the ball fly between the posts.
“It just sailed on and on,” wrote the Western Mail’s JBG Thomas, not a man noted for wild exaggeration.
The kick was later measured at 70 yards eight and a half inches or 64.2 metres. It was deemed to be the longest ever in an international match.
At its peak, the Welsh Rugby Union reckoned, the ball sailed higher than four double-decker buses and was the length of the Cutty Sark’s hull.
And all without the aid of a kicking tee.
By any standard that’s some effort. You can read more about it here.
Fast-forward to last weekend and there was another memorable kicking feat, this time on a windswept field in County Down, Northern Ireland, where Cork Constitution were playing Ballynahinch and Cork’s George Coomber triggered a collective dropping of jaws when attempting an improbable shot at the sticks.
The kick at Ballymacarn Park was sent upfield from around nine metres inside his own half and four metres from the touchline. No official measurements have been taken, though the Irish Independent suggested the distance “could be 65 metres at least”.
Thorburn launched his strike from slightly further back on the pitch but it was slightly more infield.
It’s safe to say there’s not a lot in it either way when it comes to distance.
Anyway, as with the Wales full-back’s shot through multiple postcodes, Coomber’s boomer found its target, the ball bisecting the posts and prompting triumphant shouts and cheers.
“Touch of Paul Thorburn about that one,” one social media user noted.
Another settled for: “That’s insane.”
All agreed the effort was special. Other memorable efforts from the past saw Springbok Frans Steyn hoof over a 60 metre penalty against the All Blacks in Hamilton in 2009, and Luke McAlister once goaled from near his own 10m line for North Harbour against Auckland.
Cork won the game 20-13, hoisting them to third in AIL Division 1A.
READ MORE:
Ieuan Evans insists WRU won't be rushed into Warren Gatland decision by England 'speculation'
Wales international left dumbfounded by overlooked star's omission
The Wales v England battle for Warren Gatland and who holds the ace card
Ospreys name team to face hurting Sharks as prop 'who plays like a fly-half' given chance
