Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I BEGTO DIFFER!
Farney keeper Rory vocal against new kick-out rule
RORY BEGGAN is no fan of the proposed kick-out rule and is hopeful it isn’t greenlighted by the GAA’S Central Council.
If it is, it will be trialled in next year’s Allianz Football League and Beggan fears it could change the way teams approach Gaelic football – killing the art of high fielding in the midfield area. When it comes to the kick-out, the Monaghan goalkeeper is now challenging Dublin’s Stephen Cluxton (below) as the best in the business.
But they may have to evolve again as a rule change – if given the go-ahead – would mean the ball must be kicked between the two 45m lines and contested by two players on either side.
“I’m a fan of the [proposed] defensive mark and the sin-bin, but
I’m not a fan of the kick-out rule, I don’t think they should be tampering with it,” stated the 26-year-old.
“It will probably suit keepers in a way because you’ve more spaces to hit – and only two players you can hit. But the standard of kick-outs now in any county has gone up and it’s a skill in itself. “I don’t think you need to hamper that by forcing it to go long all the time. But I don’t think it will pass anyway.”
The notion that kick-outs will be contested by two opposing sets of giants is one that doesn’t fly as far as Beggan is concerned. “There’s an awful big space between the two 45s, I don’t understand how it will bring back high fielding,” he reflected.
“I think you’ll find that the midfielders will probably become small, fast players where you’ll try to hit them in the space. It could have the opposite effect.”
Beggan and Cluxton are up against each other for an All-star this year.
Beggan admitted: “It’s obviously nice to be in the same sort of bracket as him and to be acknowledged alongside him. “To get to 37-years-of age still playing inter-county football at a high level, he’s obviously looking after himself and that’s one of the main reasons why he’s up there.”