Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan was on Tuesday’s OTB AM and spoke about the hole Stephen Cluxton would leave in the Dublin team were he to retire.
The Dublin captain hasn’t given any strong indication either way as to whether 2019 will be his last year with the side.
There is much speculation that he will hang up his boots after the Dubs secured the five-in-a-row after Saturday’s win over Kerry.
However, the Monaghan keeper reckoned that Cluxton may have one year left in him.
“Look, personally I think he might give it one more year. But the signs are there [that he’ll retire] too and he will be a huge miss definitely.
“You just watch Stephen Cluxton in those big situations… he’ll be a huge miss, with his overall persona in the dressing room. The confidence he probably exudes in the dressing room there,” Beggan said.
While Beggan has been a frequent competitor of Cluxton, the Farney man was upfront about how much the Dublin captain has influenced him.
“He was obviously a huge influence on myself coming through and I think most goalkeepers will tell you the same.
“I’d imagine most managers will tell you that, too. They’ve started to base their teams, their clubs around what Stephen Cluxton and Dublin have done in regards to goalkeeping,” Beggan commented.
Becoming a goalkeeper
Beggan also touched on how he started out as a goalkeeper and admitted that it was not originally his preferred position.
“When I was between 13 and 16 I was coming in and out, playing outfield but coming into goals the odd time. I wasn’t really fond of it.
But it came to U16s and I knew that goalkeeping was probably my best opportunity of playing football regularly. I just started to work at it a lot more.
Beggan met former Dundalk FC goalkeeper Steve Williams when he started playing for the Monaghan U21s and from then on his appreciation of the position grew.
“He done a lot of work with me and made me enjoy goalkeeping a lot more. Shot-stopping drills, high ball drills, kicking out drills.
“It made goalkeeping a wee bit more enjoyable. But the game has progressed now I suppose. Goalkeeping is a lot more enjoyable,” Beggan said.
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