By Cian O’Connell

Gary Rogers’ sporting career has brought him to all sorts of interesting places.

The Dundalk goalkeeper remains one of the most accomplished performers in the League of Ireland, but Gaelic Football remains a key part of Rogers’ existence.

While his ongoing commitments with Dundalk restricts his involvement, Rogers has worked as a goalkeeping coach with Cavan, Westmeath, and Meath.

Goalkeeping is an area which has captured the public imagination, especially in recent years with the former Meath panelist acknowledging how the game has altered.

“Absolutely, it has completely changed,” Rogers says about the role of the goalkeeper. “Stephen Cluxton is the main instigator, he has obviously evolved as a goalkeeper throughout his career.

“He has changed the sport really and the position of goalkeeper. If you look at a goalkeeper now, he is like a quarter back, who tries to control everything.

“They have far more impact on a game compared to what traditional goalkeepers would have had 15 or 20 years ago. It certainly has changed a whole lot.

“It has become a very important role, you only need to look at the amount of goalkeepers that have been up for Footballer of the Year in the last number of years. You'd never have seen that in times gone by.”

Analysis and an increase in the usage of data has played a part, but Rogers stresses the value and importance of kickouts in the modern era.

“I think retention of the ball has become massive,” Rogers reflects. “Teams have become so good at keeping the ball, the days of having a lottery of a kickout are gone.

“That has made a big change. You look at how good teams are at keeping the ball. It is so important that you win your own kickouts.

“So when you are in control of the ball, not to kick it away. That is probably a big part of it. With blanket defences you can't afford to give the ball away cheaply. Every kickout is vitally important.”

Throughout his time assisting Gaelic Football goalkeepers Rogers has noticed the willingness to learn, a thirst to acquire knowledge exists.

“When it comes to coaching goalkeepers a lot of the basics, whether they are soccer or Gaelic goalkeepers, the basics of goalkeeping remain the same - set position, handling, footwork,” Rogers replies.

“So the basic training of it remains the same. Handing on that knowledge in Gaelic circles you don't have any real coaching badges for it. That knowledge is not there to be handed on so you are looking at ways to help goalkeepers become better.

“If you look at all the top goalkeepers like Rory Beggan, who has worked with Steve Williams for five or six years with Monaghan; Stephen Cluxton has worked with a goalkeeping coach since maybe 2002 or 2003 with Gary Mathews.

“Now he is working with Josh Moran, who is an A licence soccer goalkeeping coach and is with the Ireland Under 17s. These top 'keepers like Shaun Patton, he is coming from a soccer background. He would have been getting goalkeeping coaching with Derry City and Sligo Rovers.

“It is part and parcel of the game and it is becoming more relevant. As a position grows in importance it is important we look at the young kids coming through and young goalkeepers at their clubs.

“The days standing beside the posts, kicking the posts or having a chat with the umpires. You really need to be tuned in from start to finish. The role a goalkeeper plays now is vitally important. It is equally important they get the required coaching for a specific position.”

Williams is also the Dundalk goalkeeping coach so Gaelic Football is frequently discussed at Oriel Park. “We would chat about it a good bit; Steve Williams and Aaron McCarey, he is the other goalkeeper - he comes from a Gaelic Football background, he played minor with Monaghan,” Rogers admits.

“We chat about Gaelic quite a bit; Aaron is from Scotstown, he would be fairly familiar with Rory and a lot of the Monaghan senior players. We chat about Gaelic quite a bit even though Willo is from Wales and probably wouldn't know the difference between a Gaelic and soccer ball when he first came over.

“He is well used to it now at this stage. He is a Dundalk native at this stage and it is something we talk about regularly now.

“Pat Hoban played a bit of hurling with Loughrea, a lot of the Irish lads have some sort of a GAA background. At some stage or other they'd have encountered GAA along the way. I think Georgie Kelly isn't a bad Gaelic player, a Donegal man. We would probably put together a half decent Gaelic team.”

Next month Rogers plans to hold a coaching course for anybody interested in helping goalkeepers with their club or school teams.

“There isn't really any goalkeeping coaches going on for coaches in order to upskill themselves or educate themselves on the fundamentals of goalkeeping,” Rogers explains.

“Rather than going around doing a session here and there, I just feel it would be better served if you get lads interested in goalkeeping coaching, to bring that knowledge back to their own clubs. They can provide it then for the next generation of 'keepers or even the senior 'keepers.

“Goalkeeping coaching is really a niche area and in Gaelic Football there never has really been goalkeeping coaching traditionally.

“It hasn't been part of the GAA, where you always have goalkeeping coaching in soccer. You have UEFA Licences and qualifications, it has always been a part of the game. Even more so in recent years.”

Rogers’ approach and methods have provided valuable guidance for goalkeepers such as Raymond Galligan, who have flourished in recent years.

So many goalkeepers are making a mark on the national stage inspiring the next generation. Meath native Rogers has played his own part in this unfolding story.

Bookings for the coaching seminar Meath GAA presents 'An Introduction to Goalkeeping Coaching' on April 22 can be made via: grgoalkeeping@gmail.com or Eventbrite (https://introductiontogoalkeepongcoaching.eventbrite.ie)