Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan feels it will be a Louth v Kerry All-Ireland final
Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan feels it will be a Louth v Kerry All-Ireland final
The full house signs are expected to be rolled out at Croke Park this weekend for two intriguing All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.
On Saturday at 18:00 BST, Louth get ready for their first last-four appearance since 1957 when they take on Mayo, while on Sunday at 16:00, it’s the latest instalment of the Dublin v Kerry rivalry.
Both games provide plenty of intrigue and BBC Sport NI has caught up with Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan who will be on punditry duty for Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated clash between two teams who will feel it’s a huge opportunity to reach Gaelic football’s biggest day.
The Scotstown man feels that will be “the tightest one of the weekend” as the Wee County seek to reach the final for the first time since they won it 69 years ago.
Defensive strength can tip it Louth’s way
Despite missing out on Monaghan’s quarter-final defeat by Louth due to injury, Beggan got a full insight into what makes Gavin Devlin’s side tick and believes that size and defensive strength could be decisive.
“Getting a sideline view of them the last day, they are so well set up defensively and that will cause problems for Mayo in terms of getting Kobe McDonald into the game,” he said.
“I think they will have [Donal] McKenny on [Ryan] O’Donoghue which is a good match-up, but they are so well set up and playing the last day with 14 men and keeping us out to win the game shows they have the fitness levels to compete for the full 70.
“I could be wrong and it turns into the O’Donoghue and Kobe show, but the Louth defence and their size around the middle of the field [could be the difference].
“Mayo like to go long on the kick-outs and Louth can win that midfield battle and with more of the ball, they have the forwards to punish them, but it is their defence will will help them get over the line.”
Beggan agrees that under the new rules, Gaelic football is a “game of kick-outs” and that will benefit the Leinster county who can “cause problems” if they force Mayo to go short.
Andy Moran has guided Mayo back to their first All-Ireland semi-final since 2021 in his first year in charge
Andy Moran has guided Mayo back to their first All-Ireland semi-final since 2021 in his first year in charge
While excitement in Louth is building, the experience gained over the last number of years, including their 2025 Leinster final win over Meath, will ensure the occasion will not become a burden and Saturday represents “the next step of their progression”.
With big wins over Armagh and Dublin already banked in this year’s championship, Beggan feels “confidence will be flowing” in the Louth camp.
Drawing Mayo in the last four rather than Kerry or a third meeting of the year against Dublin will left Louth “rubbing their hands” in Beggan’s opinion, but that can also be said for Andy Moran’s men
“Usually the hype train in Mayo is starting to take over around now, but that doesn’t seem to be the case this year,” Beggan observes.
“The Kobe effect is massive and he gives them a ball-winning option out the pitch and he can break lines which is taking the heat off Ryan O’Donoghue. Tommy Conroy is also coming into form along with other key players and the trust in youth has been great.
“As much as Andy wouldn’t admit it, getting to an All-Ireland semi-final would be seen as a very good start to his time as manager, but then if he was told earlier in the year they’d be playing Louth in an All-Ireland semi-final, he’d be annoyed if they lost it, but it’s a good starting point to his time as manager.”
Dubs dangerous but Kerry should prevail
Saturday’s semi-final may be viewed as a coin flip, but Kerry enter Sunday’s second semi-final as favourites to end Dublin’s impressive resurgence this year.
The Dubs have already eliminated contenders in Donegal and Galway, and while Ger Brennan’s men may be underdogs this week, Beggan feels they are live ones at that.
While many of their highly decorated stars have moved on, there are still plenty with All-Ireland medals and the Monaghan man has been impressed by how they’ve stepped up.
“If you can beat Donegal then you are capable of winning an All-Ireland and what some people tend to forget is they have a lot of brilliant players,” he said.
“Colm Basquel, we didn’t see a lot of him earlier this year, then Con O’Callaghan, Ross McGarry, Ciaran Kilkenny playing a brilliant role and Niall Scully in the form of his life – all of their main players are standing up.
“It was maybe a good ploy by Ger Brennan to question those boys earlier in the year as they are starting to repay him at the business end.”
Dublin’s upturn in form has coincided with manager Ger Brennan’s return to the sideline
Dublin’s upturn in form has coincided with manager Ger Brennan’s return to the sideline
Brennan’s return to the sideline following a 12-week ban came in the win against Cavan following a round one defeat by Louth and Dublin have improved game by game.
That ban, along with Donegal manager Jim McGuinness escaping a similar punishment for his part in a fracas against Kerry, may have instilled a “siege mentality” according to Beggan, but some below-par displays earlier this year may have also galvanised the group.
“Having him back along the line is the extra boost, but we can’t forget Dublin scraped over the line against Wicklow in a Leinster quarter-final,” he continued.
“Maybe those were the type of games have helped bring them on as they may think ‘we’re not as good as we think we are, so we have to knuckle down here’ and I can imagine Ger was in the background saying something similar.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they were to get a result this weekend. I still think it’s a Kerry win but you just don’t know with this championship.”
Kerry have also been building throughout the championship as after their defeat by Donegal in round one, they ruthlessly put Kildare and Armagh to the sword.
It as a lot tighter in the quarter-final against Tyrone, but that could well be a “blessing in disguise”, according to Beggan.
“Maybe some are starting to think Kerry can be got at, but like Dublin, they’ve players coming back in and three massive games that will have brought Joe O’Connor and Gavin White on and that will be a serious help to get them over these next few weeks.
“Kerry are still clear favourites but the game against Tyrone will keep the mind focused.”
