The position of goalkeeper in Gaelic Football is constantly changing and former Antrim shot-stopper Chris Kerr says ’keepers who are good enough to come outfield should be encouraged to do so.
Kerr was responding to remarks made by RTÉ GAA pundit Pat Spillane regarding the role of the so-called ‘sweeper keeper’ in the modern game.
It is fair to say the Kerry legend isn’t a fan and has accused goalkeepers who stray outfield as being on “ego trips” while speaking on this week’s RTÉ GAA Podcast.
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“A goalkeeper's primary job is to stop goals. If he was that good out the field he'd be playing there, not in goals,” stated Spillane.
“Once or twice in a game, an unexpected move, a bit of variety - I can see that - but they're all coming out now. These guys are on ego trips because they're on a powerful adrenaline push.
"A sweeper keeper should not come beyond the halfway line. There'll be a lot more opponents who took something out of Kerry's game plan and they will be targeting these keepers, particularly Rory Beggan."
Monaghan’s goalkeeper was caught out during the Farney’s 3-14 to 1-12 loss to the Kingdom in Inniskeen.
Beggan was out at midfield when his side lost possession and David Clifford finished into an empty net while Sean O’Shea lobbed Beggan for another goal.
Yet, Kerr has leaped to the defence of goalkeepers and he now fears that the GAA’s hierarchy could soon move to curb their influence on games.
“Pat (Spillane) is always making statements based on how the game was played in his era - the kick and catch era when everyone stuck to their positions and it was 15 versus 15,” said Kerr.
“The goalkeeper stayed in the six-yard box. The game has changed completely from then. Things have changed dramatically in the last five to 10 years and even in last two or three years, the game is constantly evolving.
“Pat makes a lot of statements based on his experience and what he knows of the game.
“It is easy to make statements and comments when things go wrong, like it did at the weekend. Kerry were good at exploiting Monaghan and that is the risk of playing that way.
“I think it has added a bit of entertainment to the game. The only concern would be that the rule-changers would look at it and bring in a rule that goalkeepers can’t move outside the ‘21’.
“If you look at the short kick-outs, you can’t go back to the ’keeper until the second pass. It has happened before with new rules brought in. There have been that many rule changes so who knows?”
Kerr retired from inter-county football following the end of the 2018 campaign and his game-time for St Gall’s in recent seasons was severely limited by back-to-back cruciate knee ligament injuries.
Now living in Armagh City, Kerr will line out for Ballymacnab this season. While playing for St Gall’s, Kerr says he was always encouraged to make himself available as an outlet.
He says that involving ’keepers in more attacking roles should be encouraged, provided the man wearing the number one jersey is up to the task.
“When playing for St Gall’s I knew my limits,” joked Kerr.
“There was no way I was crossing the halfway line with three McGourtys (Conor, Kevin and Kieran), Kevin Niblock and Mickey Pollock ahead of me.
“I know Spillane said Beggan wasn’t an attacking player, but there are times in the game when space can be exploited.
“Beggan landed a point from play against Tyrone when the two teams were mirroring each other. Niall (Morgan) is probably the most natural at it - he looks like an outfield player.
“Outfield players will often have a marker handing off them or someone in their face, goalkeepers have that time to look up and see the pass. There is nobody responsible for a goalkeeper coming up the pitch.
“Obviously Tyrone are going to use Niall Morgan as a weapon - he is a top athlete and a top goalkeeper.
“If players have the ability to come outfield, then why not do it?
“However, it is important that managers don’t force it upon goalkeepers if it is not in their locker either.”
