Beggan in ‘waiting game’ over NFL move – Corey

MonaghanmanagerVinnyCoreyislosing hope that Rory Beggan will be back in his set-up in the near future, admitting his star goalkeeper was playing a “waiting game” as he chases an NFL contract.

Beggan gave his chances of securing a deal a significant shot in the arm when he delivered a perfect performance in front of scouts in Florida last week, landing 10 field goals from 10 attempts from a variety of distances.

For the first time, each of the 32 NFL teams have a 17th roster spot on the practice squad specifically available for an international player but the Scotstown man, who is still in the USA, may have to wait until after the Draft at the end of next month to discover whether he will pick up a deal.

“It’ s very much he doesn’ t know himself what the story is,” Corey said at the launch of the Ulster SFC in Belfast last night.

“It’s very much a waiting game for him over there, ya know? He shot very well the last day and I was speaking to him after that and he was very happy with how he went.

“I know he has put a lot of work into what he is doing and from his point of view it’s a waiting game now, it’s a bit of a limbo.

“He has nothing new to report, no word of any contract or anything like that. It’s a waiting game.

“I’m not too sure what the plans [for coming home] are. It could change at any stage, he was supposed to fly home three weeks ago and it changed and I think he was planning to come home shortly but again it’s all up in the air. If he got interest from a club my understanding is he’d stay out visit them and talk to them so it is very much up in the air.”

Monaghan turned to Clontibret’s Darren McDonnell in Beggan’s absence with Corey happy with how he has developed in difficult circumstances.

“We spent the league blooding Darren McDonnell. [Beggan] is the only ’keeper who has ever played National League for Monaghan this last 10-plus years, Division 1 is a tough place to start that and he has done as well as can be expected.

“It’s a high-pressure position to be coming into at the best of times, never mind coming in after Rory Beggan.

“We are happy with the enthusiasm and the positivity Darren has shown even though there have been learning points in it for him, but he has always bounced back and kept coming so great for him and as far as we are concerned Darren is in there and it is his position at the minute.”