"I was only talking to someone about this yesterday," says Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan.
"About 15 years ago, goalkeeper was a less sexy position. There’s more kids coming to club training now that want to be goalkeepers than in my own experience when I was growing up playing U8s with Rathmore.
"They see goalkeeper now as a position where you can express yourself. There’s so many facets to the game now being a goalkeeper, you almost need to be able to do everything.
"Kids are seeing goalkeepers now taking free kicks, kicking points from play, breaking forward with the ball and they are getting much more media attention as well which is probably helping the position of goalkeeper."
Kerry's Shane Ryan and Ciara Murphy with Comórtas chairman Padraig Ó Sé at Thunder Cove, Dingle Bay announcing details of the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé 2024, the famed adult men's and ladies GAA club tournament which takes place from 23-25 February. Details on www.paidiose.com
Ryan plays outfield with Rathmore. In last year's All-Ireland intermediate final against Galbally Pearses, he scored 1-3 from full-forward. It's a versatility he feels aids him between the sticks for Kerry. "I'm used to taking hits, I'm used to tackling, to beating players," he says, speaking at the launch of the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé 2024.
The 2023 season had Ryan following the trend of goalkeepers being involved in outfield play.
"I suppose it was more the way teams were setting up against us rather than me trying to impose myself on an outfield role," says Ryan.
"The Derry game was probably the most notable one and Derry at times had 15 behind the ball so I suppose they were pinned back in their own half so if we came under pressure with possession I was kind of a safety outlet at the back.
15 January 2023; Shane Ryan of Rathmore during the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final match between Galbally Pearses of Tyrone and Rathmore of Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"I’m quite conscious that I have backs in front of me that have way more pace than I have and are well able to kick the ball and move the ball as well so if I get the ball to them then all the better."
Ryan scored a point from play late in the first half against Derry, bringing his side to within the minimum of the Ulster champions. Moments before kicking the score, Ryan was involved in a heavy midfield collision with Derry's star forward Shane McGuigan.
Shane Ryan with a high challenge on Shane McGuigan as he jumps into the Derry player. No foul given and the goalkeeper scores
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"I spoke to Shane at the All-Stars about it," Ryan says.
"We had a bit of a joke about it. I asked him was his head alright! But he was good about it. He was down in Killarney the week after our game so he was talking about that.
"At the time, Tom O'Sullivan gave me a pass. I am not sure that he meant to put it that far in front of me. But the ball took a good bounce and was in the air.
"From a goalkeeper's point of view, when the ball is in the air, your instinct is to make sure it is secure. At the time, my instinct was to jump at the ball to secure it into my midriff. If I caught it out in front of me, it would have been open for a turnover.
"I could see Shane advancing, but I was in mid-air at that stage. I turned my body to protect the ball. I probably made contact with my hip in his face.
"Was it intentional? Absolutely not. My initial reaction was to keep playing on. As I played on I saw he was on the ground after and I probably didn’t realise how tough the contact was until I watched the replays back.
"But the ball was in the air and my reaction was to make sure the ball was secure because I was the last line of defence. If I was turned over, it was a certain goal and my position in the air made for the contact with Shane, which was unfortunate."
30 July 2023; Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan in action against Colm Basquel of Dublin during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
In the All-Ireland final, Ryan feels Dublin managed the closing moments of the game better than Kerry.
"We probably struggled to see out the game, to get a point on the board, or even to get a shot from a 60, 70 or 80 per cent position," says Ryan about the two-point defeat.
"We didn't really get a shot from there. There were a huge amount of turnovers in that game due to the conditions.
"In the last five minutes Dublin probably just managed the game a small bit better than us, whereas in the previous game, the All-Ireland semi-final against Derry, we probably managed it the last five minutes.
"Both of those games were won in the last five minutes, that is maybe the learning for us. There will be more than one area you need to work on. We know we probably didn't do ourselves justice last year."
Ryan has been following "with interest" the news that Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan and his Wicklow counterpart Mark Jackson will take part in American football trials at an NFL combine in late February and early March. It's another spin-off in the Gaelic football goalkeeping story.
"I would have only spoken to Rory a handful of times but he is greatly admired by all goalkeepers in Ireland and someone I would admire as well," says Ryan, a capable dead ball striker.
"It’s interesting, and the NFL is something I would have a vague interest in as well. Not too much. But it’s something new and when there’s an Irish sports star involved it’s something we all get behind as well.
"I hadn’t really thought about it myself. If the offer came, I would probably think about it alright. But I have enough to be focussing on, keeping my jersey in Kerry for a bit."
See Also: Shane Ryan Understands 'Other Counties' Grievances' About Kerry Club System
