EX-WESTMEATH goalkeeper Gary Connaughton reckons he would struggle badly to make the grade at inter-county level nowadays – even if he was at the peak of his powers.
An All-Star in 2008, Connaughton was one of the leading players in his position during a career that also saw him help his county win their first ever Leinster SFC title.
But the goalkeeper’s duties have expanded considerably since.
And after a raft of rule changes were introduced by the Football Review Committee, the role has never been under more scrutiny.
Connaughton said: “The traditional goalie is nearly gone at this stage.
“I wouldn’t get on a county panel if I was playing football now.
“I’d be surplus to requirements because it seems to be all about what you can do out the field.
“It’s not something I’m in favour of. But that’s the new football and it seems that we just have to adapt to it.”
Following the overhaul of the laws of the game, a team can avail of a numerical advantage in the opposing half by bringing its goalkeeper forward.
Tyrone’s Niall Morgan and Monaghan’s Rory Beggan — who both epitomise the evolution of modern keeper — thrive as their long-range kicking ability is used to rack up two-point scores.
There has been much opposition to the so-called 12-v-11 rule, with Derry boss Paddy Tally claiming that it is ‘killing the game’.
But Tubberclair’s Connaughton said: “When Anthony Nash was in goal for the Cork hurlers, he had an unbelievable drive of a penalty and they changed the rules as a result.
“When a goalie masters something, there’s always going to be criticism and calls for rule changes. Morgan, Beggan and these guys have mastered it very well.
“But I don’t think it would be right to change the rules just because some counties are good at it and others aren’t. It’s up to other counties to improve and get up to that level.
“We can’t be changing the rules every five minutes. Goalies should be allowed to play out the field if they so wish.
“It’s not something that I would have liked myself because I just wouldn’t have been able to do it.
“But as a neutral, I think it makes for great entertainment, especially if they’re caught and they can’t get back.”
A number of counties, including Westmeath, have sought to adapt to the new rules by deploying an outfield player in goal.
Conor McCormack has been starting in the No 1 shirt for the Lakesmen, while Derry have taken the same approach with Neil McNicholl.
Connaughton said: “We’ve already seen goals going in because a lot of these lads just aren’t as capable with the shot-stopping at the moment.
“Great saves can add a lot to a game as well.”
HOLD THEM BACK
Morgan said recently that some keepers would walk away if they were stopped from going up the pitch.
But former stopper Connaughton said: “We have a couple of young goalies in my own club and they still love saving shots, trying to master kick-outs, dealing with high balls in and around the square and all that stuff.
“You don’t want to take those skills out of the game.
“I don’t think they should be banning goalies from coming out the field but the traditional goalie shouldn’t be allowed to die out either.”
