'It can be a hard watch' - Beggan hopes new rules add excitement

Beggan's involvement with Scotstown in next week's Monaghan final means he won't take part in this weekend's trial games at Croke Park

Rory Beggan says the implementation of rule changes could help gaelic football's entertainment value with the Monaghan goalkeeper admitting the sport in its current guise can be a "hard watch".

The proposed rule changes - which have been devised by the GAA's Football Review Committee (FRC), a body led by Dublin's six-time All-Ireland winning manager Jim Gavin - will be trialled during this weekend's inter-provincial series at Croke Park.

The proposals will impact the goalkeeper's role in the modern game with one of the suggested changes stipulating that outfield players can only pass to the keeper if they are both inside the large rectangle or if the goalkeeper has advanced beyond their own 65-yard line.

Beggan is renowned for his willingness to vacate his goal and join the attack - which has often yielded scores from play - but he says he is interested to see how new innovations are adopted at Croke Park this weekend.

"I'm always excited to see change in a positive way," said Beggan, whose involvement with Scotstown in next week's Monaghan final ruled him out of the interpro series.

"We've beat around the bush the last few years with different rule changes but the proper people are in place to make our game a better spectacle.

"To be honest, as a player, you don't care about the entertainment side of it, it's all about winning, but as a spectator it can be a hard watch."

Beggan added: "I'm looking forward to seeing the three up, three back rule with forwards and defenders which could open the game up as a kicking game, which is one of my favourite skills, and I'm looking forward to seeing the two-point rule - seeing a lot more scores from 45, 50 yards which people want to see."

'I got my eyes opened' - Beggan on NFL adventure

Beggan is hoping to end a busy 2024 by helping Scotstown retain their county title and challenge in the Ulster series. Earlier this year, the 32-year-old suffered disappointment with Monaghan in the championship after falling short in his bid to land an NFL contract as a kicker.

While fellow gaelic footballers Charlie Smyth and Jude McAtamney secured deals with the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants, Beggan's NFL dream is over, but he says his stateside venture opened his eyes.

"The big thing for me was going out to taste the professional lifestyle of that sport," said 2018 All-Star Beggan.

"I got my eyes opened in terms of the training schedules, the nutrition side of it, the strength and conditioning side of it.

"The one thing I'd say is we train a lot harder back here in the GAA and don't get any money for it. Over there, some of the figures that spouted around the players are ridiculous but the training that goes on here in Ireland, we're definitely one the sports with the fittest players.

"I realised how much I missed the GAA when I was away. There are times when you hate the GAA when you're losing but when you're away from it, you realise how much you love it and how much it's a massive part of your life so I'm lucky to come back into two hugely competitive teams when I came back.

"That's me fully focused back in the GAA now and I'm looking to push on with a bit more success with the club."