Football

Rory Beggan displays earn Ulster Writers' award

Ulster GAA Writers Association award winner Rory Beggan (left), UGAAWA chairman John Martin and Emmett Scollan (right), Quinn Building Contracts Area Sales Manager for Fermanagh, Monaghan & Armagh. Picture by Jim Dunne.
Ulster GAA Writers Association award winner Rory Beggan (left), UGAAWA chairman John Martin and Emmett Scollan (right), Quinn Building Contracts Area Sales Manager for Fermanagh, Monaghan & Armagh. Picture by Jim Dunne. Ulster GAA Writers Association award winner Rory Beggan (left), UGAAWA chairman John Martin and Emmett Scollan (right), Quinn Building Contracts Area Sales Manager for Fermanagh, Monaghan & Armagh. Picture by Jim Dunne.

RORY Beggan had to think just how he would sum up his 2018 season.

There were highlights and lowlights for Monaghan throughout the year but, overall, the towering Farney goalkeeper is reasonably happy with his personal kudos.

“I suppose I would say that it was a mixture of good and bad.. he recalled

“Losing the Ulster semi-final to Fermanagh and the All-Ireland semi-final to Tyrone were certainly disappointing results and, of course, losing the Ulster club final to Gweedore was a big blow, as well.”

“I am very pleased with the individual honours that I achieved but it was disappointing on the county front.''

However, on a personal level, Beggan (26) has brought home quite an array of trophies.

He won a fifth Monaghan SFC medal with Scotstown, collected a coveted Bank of Ireland Allstar Award and has won his second Quinn Building Contracts Ulster GAA Writers' Merit Award, after his performances with his club during November.

“Those awards are all super to get,” he said.

“And to win this Monthly Merit Award for the second time in four months is really great. It is something I never expected but I really appreciate getting it.

“My mother looks after these awards and keeps them well polished,” revealed Rory at the presentation in Quinn's Corner.

There were those, of course, who questioned his Allstar Award but he pays no heed to the controversy.

“I pay no attention to that, at all. People can have their say – they are entitled to that but it takes nothing from me winning the award,” he said.

His hand was up higher than anybody else's hand, also, for the Quinn Building Contracts UGAAWA November Merit Award, although Joe Maskey (St Enda's Glengormley) also had magic moments during the month.

If for nothing else other than the nerve, power and accuracy he displayed in pushing the super efforts of Eoin Ruadh, Coleraine, out of the Ulster Club SFC at the semi-final stage, with an injury-time free-kick, Beggan made a strong bid for the monthly award.

In the conditions that prevailed, that winning point for Scotstown must feature among the scores of the season.

That was a super score but not the only one that the Scotstown stopper produced during November. Not for the first time, he charged upfield to join his attack in the knockout game against Burren and rifled over a point from play.

“I enjoy going upfield but it is not something that I might be fit enough to do too often during a game,” he cracked.

The Monaghan schools' and clubs' coach has achieved something of cult status among schoolchildren in the county. He has been dubbed a 'Pied Piper' because of the way that children follow him.

“It is nice to see them taking such an interest in football. It keeps them out of harm's way.” he stressed.

In fact, I understand that Monaghan goalkeeper's jerseys have soared in sales because of Beggan's influence in coaching. “Maybe, I should be getting commission on the sales,” he suggested.

Making the presentation of an engraved Belleek Living Vase, specially hand crafted cuff links from Carlingford Design House and training gear from O'Neill's International Sportswear to Rory Beggan was Emmett Scollan, Quinn Building Products Sales Manager for Fermanagh, Monaghan and Armagh.

Rory will also received two complimentary tickets to the UGAAWA Annual Presentation Dinner in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, on February I next.