Monaghan's Rory Beggan is one of the most accomplished Gaelic Football goalkeepers in the game.
By Cian O’Connell
Rory Beggan acknowledges that the Monaghan GAA success story has been all about maximising resources. Beggan, one of the most accomplished goalkeepers on the inter-county beat, works as a Games Promotion Officer in the Farney County.
So few are better placed to offer an insight into how Monaghan have established themselves as serious competitors.
Malachy O’Rourke’s enduring efforts with the flagship team has brought Monaghan two Ulster senior titles since 2013, while reaching the last eight of the All Ireland Championship is now merely viewed as the baseline target.
An All Ireland SFC Semi-Final appearance will be secured if Monaghan can avoid defeat against Galway at Pearse Stadium on Saturday. Scratch beneath the surface, though, and further sources of optimism exist.
Provincial minor wins were registered in 2013 and 2018, while Ciaran ‘Dinky’ McBride steered Monaghan to Ulster Under 21 glory in 2016.
A feel good factor surrounds Monaghan with Beggan highlighting the interest in this summer’s Kelloggs Cul Camps as another encouraging sign. “There is that link between the Monaghan teams doing well with the minors and seniors and also the Camps going well,” Beggan admits.
“A big part of that is the fact that the county players, some of the players who are local to a particular camp call in.
“This year we had some of the minor players bringing around the Ulster Championship trophy. So stuff like that adds to the experience for the kids, you do see the kids are going enjoying themselves playing football, rounders, hurling, and handball which is down to the standard of coaching.
Rory Beggan continues to impress for Monaghan.
“With the camps you would be flat out with the administration side as well, so you find it being very hectic throughout the month of July.
“You are trying to get a lot of work done - you'd have your development squads, Cul Camps, and Go Games running. It is a very busy time and it is demanding, but it is enjoyable.”
Beggan constructs and delivers programmes in primary schools throughout Monaghan during the academic year also. “I have a lot of areas I'd be working in - primary school would take up a lot of it,” Beggan states.
“You'd be coaching in the primary schools, but also organising initiatives like indoor leagues, Go Games blitzes for primary schools. That sort of runs into after schools programmes we would run for fifth and sixth classes.
“They come in after school for an hour and a half to do schools and fun games which would then feed into them playing half-time games in the National League. That would be a big part of the primary schools stuff and I'm over the whole Go Games in Monaghan.
“That is Under 7s and Under 9s which takes up a lot of the summer. In fairness to the clubs they do a lot of good work with the Go Games through hosting Go Games blitzes. We would run a couple of Monster blitzes in the Centre of Excellence or in St Tiernach's Park.
“You have a lot of stuff to do either side of the Cul Camps throughout the year and Club Development going out to help clubs with workshops or mentoring, taking a session with younger groups to help coaches.”
During his University days in Jordanstown Beggan became particularly interested in coaching and eventually started working with Monaghan GAA in 2016.
“I did Sports and Business, but when I was in College it wasn't really the stuff I wanted to do,” Beggan reflects. “So I started going in more into the coaching side of it doing a couple of the coaching courses. They were just as beneficial for me. I'm still learning as a coach and would like to take on a couple of more certificates.
“The organisation would be a big part of it. You'd be organising camps and your monster blitzes. Last weekend we had one in Clones for Under 9s so it was a Friday night and Saturday job. You are organising that clubs are there on time, the amount of teams they have, just the organisation of it all. You aren't going to keep everyone happy, but you are trying your best.”
Rory Beggan celebrates after Monaghan's 2013 Ulster Final victory.
Monaghan with a population of 61,273 in the most recent census continue to operate at a high level making the best and most effective use of everything they have.
“I think we have to because of our population,” Beggan replies. “I think we do a lot of work with clubs and schools, but a lot of the clubs have to take the credit too.
“They are putting in a lot of great work, especially in their underage structures which is feeding right through. They do work with us through the Club Development Programme we run. Again you can see that relationship between us and the clubs is becoming very beneficial.
“You can see the numbers rising each year in clubs, camps, and development squads. The numbers are huge.”
Monaghan’s recent improvements at underage level too confirm the sheer hard graft of the clubs within the county. “That is true,” Beggan replies. “Our club structure is one of the best in Ireland in terms of teams getting games. We also run our development squads which seem to be getting some bad press from other people, who don't agree with development squads.
“We feel it is a big part of our success, kids coming up through from Under 14s to Under 17s. They are getting quality training, we aren't saying that they aren't with their clubs, but they are getting it here.
“Also they are getting more knowledge on the strength and conditioning and nutrition side. I feel a big part of Monaghan's success is down to development squads and kids coming through. Just getting a chance to represent Monaghan, to wear the Monaghan jersey so they are ready to play at minor and senior level.”
It has been a notable decade and a half for Monaghan, but Beggan remains adamant that further progress is imminent. “We are trying to make the most of it while we have this,” Beggan states. “We'd love for the success in Monaghan to keep going on and on and on. That is the plan, but there was a time when it wasn't going well.
“This is a time where it is going well and we need to maximise it as best as possible. I feel we are and that we can still do a lot more. At the minute we feel we are going in the right direction as a county in terms of our structures and our coaching structures.
“Hopefully we can keep pushing on. Some day we can maybe get up to the level where the likes of the Dublins and Kerrys are at. Hopefully that day will come.”
With cool custodian Beggan involved, Monaghan continue to travel with equal measures of hope and expectation.
