Caley Thistle’s Ross Munro on becoming the ‘penalty save king’

Ross Munro is still getting used to hero status as Caley Thistle’s penalty save king – after pulling off four in three matches.

The former Ross County goalkeeper admits he could barely remember saving a spot-kick prior to the drama of January.

Prior to last weekend’s morale-boosting win away to East Fife, the Nairn-raised shotstopper had produced some sparkling displays capped by penalty saves.

A big last-minute stop at Cove on January 10 denied the hosts victory, but that was eclipsed by the 25-year-old’s brilliance in the shock Challenge Cup win away to Partick Thistle on January 13.

Amid a stunning series of saves in the 3-3 draw, Munro stood strong to push away a penalty in normal time, before pulling off another vital stop from 12 yards in the shoot-out.

Then there was another shoot-out save at Spartans in the Scottish Cup, albeit with an exit from the competition.

Munro said: “Have I earned the nickname penalty save king? A few people have called me that.

“It makes a change saving them. I’ve hardly saved any penalties in my life and they have come all at once, so hopefully I have not used up all my luck at once.

“I have hit a lucky purple patch, so it is nice, but I know myself you can’t save them all so it is good while it lasts.

“We don’t really work on penalties too much, maybe towards the end of a Friday when the boys will take a couple of penalties.

“But I feel like goalkeeping training in general kind of helps with the spring and reading of people’s bodies. It all comes into one.

“The backroom staff send out videos and they send me clips of past penalties from players we face, so I will have a look at them and then make up my mind which way to go.

“But I prefer to see it in the moment, and get a feel for it in real-time.

“In this day in age, you have to do your homework. You are after that one per cent advantage, so you do as much as you can.

“Some players have awkward run-ups so you don’t want to be going too early because you can end up embarrassed.

“Allan MacGregor (ex-Rangers and Scotland) and Scott Fox at County, who was my idol growing up as I worked alongside him, are two I take inspiration from.

“Throughout this season, the defence and team in front of me have been amazing and I haven’t been called upon too often because the likes of Danny Devine and Remi Savage in so often stop the danger at source.

“So when I am called upon, it makes me feel good, and more part of the team, to have contributed to a win or draw.”

Most enjoyable spell of Munro’s career

Munro enjoyed a brilliant grounding in the game, moving from local team Nairn County’s under-15s to join Ross County in 2017.

There he learned his trade in the youths and then as understudy to first choice keeper Scott Fox – a huge influence on him.

Craving first team opportunities through several seasons spent on the substitutes’ bench, Munro took loan stints at Brora Rangers, Raith Rovers, Cowdenbeath and Annan Athletic before joining League Of Ireland Dundalk in January 2024.

It proved an unfulfilling adventure as the club was plunged in financial turmoil, with Munro grabbing the chance of a Caley Thistle contract the following December.

Across the Firth from where he cut his teeth, it has proved a brilliant move.

Munro said: “In football, you never know where you will end up.

“It is good to be here and I am buzzing as it is probably the best time that I have had in football.

“I have enjoyed it so much, and I want it to continue –  and get better

“Ireland was good, but with some ups and mainly downs – a lot of managers came and went and the club wasn’t going to exist for a while.

“It was a weird situation, but an experience – and I enjoyed my time over there. You take every experience as it comes.”

Preparing for promotion challengers Alloa, Munro added: “It is great to get back to winning ways, but this will be another tough game.

“We have played them twice before this season and both were tough. We have to be at full focus and be ready for Saturday as we know it is going to be a battle.”

[Source: Press and Journal]