Goalkeepers coming out to play

The new rules have already had an impact on ‘keepers with a number coming forward for points from play

ONE of the most obvious outcomes of the FRC’s new rules last weekend was that goalkeepers are going to have an even bigger say on proceedings as they can provide a spare man in the opposition’s half.

It was evident that some teams have been working hard on plays to take advantage of that and with 13 games taking place, a huge six goalkeepers scored from play – surely a record.

Goalkeepers are now regulars on the scoresheet from frees and while the likes of Niall Morgan, Ethan Rafferty and Rory Beggan are known to nab a score from play here and there, such a concentrated return really points to a shift.

Here are the six goalkeepers that found the mark.

Rory Beggan (Monaghan)

IT perhaps speaks volumes about Rory Beggan’s class when he can notch 0-6 and no eyebrows were really raised.

Included in his haul was a two-point score as well as two two-point frees and he’s a goalie who really should be racking up big scores with these adjustments given his accuracy.

The two-pointer in the first half was a lovely sliced effort that just made it over the bar and he had a massive say on proceedings.

Gary O’Rourke (Cavan)

CAVAN may have come out on the wrong side of the result against rivals Monaghan, but O’Rourke did manage to kick a nice score.

With his side five points down in the second half, the ball bounced and bobbled before finally making it to the keeper just inside the arc and he floated one over with his left foot.

It got Cavan back within four points, but Monaghan were able to see the game out.

O’Rourke’s picture was widely used in media reports over the weekend as Sportsfile caught the moment the umpire wrapped his head around the new orange flag. Perhaps some clever metaphor for the new rules exists within that.

Ross Bogue (Fermanagh)

POINTED from a ’45 after Darragh McGurn had been denied a goal by a fine Didier Cordonnier save in the first half, and doubled his tally early in the second half as the Erne County enjoyed their best period in the loss to Kildare.

Garvan Jones had just pointed a free before Bogue’s effort and the Lilywhites were suddenly back within range, but that was as good as it got as the hosts took complete command from there.

Colm Reape (Mayo)

FROM the very start, it was clear that Mayo were intent on getting Reape into good attacking positions as they faced up to a new-look Dublin at Croke Park.

He continually joined the attack and had a big hand in Conor Reid’s goal while also getting on the scoresheet himself.

That came early in the contest as after a blistering Dublin start – when they put 1-1 on the board in no time – the goalie settled Mayo nerves with their opening score.

Paddy Dunican (Offaly)

OFFALY had a really eye-catching win over a fancied Sligo and Paddy Dunican played his part as he managed not one, but two scores for the Faithful County.

He’s just made his return to Mickey Harte and Declan Kelly’s squad and his impact is already obvious as he consistently attacked the spaces left by the Sligo defence.

Sligo had a two-point lead at the break, but Dunican ensured Offaly made a good start to the second period and he would go on to kick one of the scores of the day as they raced clear.

Billy Hogan (Meath)

BILLY Hogan is, and has been for a while, one of Gaelic football’s most prolific scoring goalkeepers and he has a brilliant strike in his armoury.

While that has mostly been limited to frees, he has been expanding it to play too and he got on the scoresheet in the high-scoring loss to Cork, 2-19 to 0-21.

It was one of the better goalkeeper’s scores of the weekend too, picking the ball up deep and running directly at the Cork defence, spinning past two players and pointing.

It seemed important too as it drew Meath level heading into the final stages, but it was the hosts that found the crucial match-winning goal.