Beggan “excited” by rule enhancements

By Shaun Casey

MONAGHAN goalkeeper Rory Beggan is “excited” by the new rule enhancements that will be trialed at Croke Park over the weekend and hopes they will improve Gaelic football as a spectacle.

Jim Gavin’s FRC committee have brought forward seven new rules that will change the face of the sport. A number of the rules will impact Beggan and goalkeepers directly, as there will be no back pass to the goalkeeper unless it is beyond the half-way line.

The Scotstown shot stopper is happy to sacrifice his own involvement for the betterment of the game. “I’m excited about them to be honest,” said the 2018 All-Star netminder.

“There’s an impact on goalkeepers but I’m excited that they’re going to make the game a wee bit better of a spectacle, because it is a tough watch at times.

“As a player, you think the game’s grand and you don’t care how it looks to everybody else. But when you’re sitting in the stand or watching it on TV, you’re literally bored. I’m looking forward to seeing how they impact the game in a positive way.

“If there’s any way of making the game a more attractive proposition then we have to try it and I’m looking forward to seeing them in Croke Park.

“I’ll reserve my judgement until then because all I’m doing is reading the rules and I want to actually see them.”

The rule that Beggan is most excited about is the 3v3 structure. Each team must keep at least three players in their own attacking half, and three in their defensive half, in an attempt to limit the blanket defence tactic that has become the norm.

“I’m a big fan of the 3v3,” added Beggan. “Not too many people are, they don’t know how it’ll be policed, but if it’s policed properly then I think it’ll make it far more attractive. I think you’ll start to see out and out forwards coming back into prominence a bit more.

“Even if it is an 11v11 attack instead of 15 players attacking 14 defenders, I think you’re going to see a lot more space and a lot more kicking. I’m looking forward to that aspect of it and that’s the one I’m really excited about.

“As a goalkeeper, I’m a wee bit worried about the high press as we can’t really be involved to help get out of that but again, that’s going to make the game a lot easier to watch because you can’t use your goalkeeper as the get out of jail clause.”

Beggan is preparing for another Monaghan county final as Scotstown take on Clontibret in the decider but admits he would have liked to be involved in the inter-provincial taking place this weekend.

“I definitely would have said yes if I was approached but I have bigger things to look forward to over the next couple of days, so I’ll be happy enough on the couch watching this weekend.”