BEGGAN TO DIFFER
Change of plan for Farney goalkeeper Rory who is free for League opener v Dubs before his NFL trials in USA
RORY BEGGAN is back training with Monaghan and in the running to play in the early rounds of the National League.
The ex-all Star goalkeeper is still set to attend the NFL Combine in Indianapolis at the end of February, but will be available for Monaghan’s Division 1 opener against Dublin at Croke Park on Saturday week.
It was originally believed Beggan would miss all of January and February after landing a prized trial spot along with fellow GAA goalkeepers, Wicklow’s Mark Jackson and Down’s Charlie Smyth.
Beggan is set to try out at kick-offs, where length of kick is a priority and possibly field goals and punting, after coming through a series of trials organised by former Connacht rugby player Tadhg Leader. The 31-year-old was in the Monaghan changing room for Sunday’s 15 point Mckenna Cup semi-final loss by Donegal – but didn’t play.
Beggan has been an ever present in the Monaghan goals since he made his county debut back in 2013 and has been a revolutionary force in the game.
His replacement, Darren Mcdonnell had a tough day at Castleblayney on Sunday, as Donegal went after the Monaghan kickout.
Speaking about Beggan’s trials, Farney boss Vinny Corey said: “It’s happening. He wants to explore it, but I think it’s not until the end of February. I’m not sure of the exact date.
“He’s back training with us so he’ll be in contention for those first few National League games.
“There’s an opportunity for us in that he’s been playing every game for so long.
“We haven’t had the opportunity to blood somebody else in that position. Him maybe not being around for a few games gives us a chance to blood somebody else and give them a chance.
“We’ve a few boys should be back from injury. We’ll just assess them over the next few weeks and see. We’ll have a clearer read by the end of next week on who we’ll have.”
Monaghan have also lost prospect Karl Gallagher to AFL side Adelaide Crows.
Gallagher started consistently in last year’s Championship and was earmarked as one for the future.
Corey said: “I didn’t know he was at trials at all until I got a phone call to say he had been at them and that he’s thinking of doing it.
“That was as much insight as I got into it. We would have identified him as somebody who had the right traits, even in an athletic midfielder.
“We probably blooded him last year and he played a lot of games for us, and we were looking forward to him getting stronger again this year.
“That’s the way it goes. We’re not the first team that has happened to and won’t be the last.”
Monaghan started with just five regulars against Donegal – Killian Lavelle, Conor Mccarthy, Gary Mohan, Stephen O’hanlon and Ryan O’toole. Worryingly, they lost All Star wing back Mccarthy and promising attacker Sean Jones to injury inside the opening 13 minutes. Corey says getting to a Mckenna Cup final “wasn’t the priority” for Monaghan.
He continued: “If it was there would have been a lot more players playing. It was good to get the extra game for some of the players.
“We wouldn’t have been happy with that first half. It was just a pity it ended on that.
“Over the course of the Mckenna Cup, we’ll take the positives from the three games and go from there. We’re not overly disappointed.
“There’s always little things to be picked up, even though the result looks gone from you early on in that sort of game.
“You’re still looking at different players to see how they’re acquitting themselves.
“Most boys that played for Monaghan, at some stage in their careers they had a real bad Mckenna Cup result like that, a few of them myself.”