By Shaun Casey

THE role of a goalkeeper has changed an awful lot since Benny Tierney last laced up the boots. Kickout routines, sweeper ‘keepers and even scoring are all part of the modern goalkeeper’s job.

Tierney famously helped Armagh clinch their first and only All-Ireland crown in 2002, with his restart to Diarmaid Marsden paving the way for Oisin McConville’s all-important goal.

Looking on at today’s number ones Tierney has enjoyed the development of the role, which is now one of the most “pivotal positions” on the field.

“I’m enjoying the role the goalkeeper has in the modern game,” The Mullaghbawn native said. “Sometimes about 30 or 40 years ago you just stuck anybody in goals. It’s now one of the pivotal positions and I think it’s great. The modern-day goalkeeper has a much higher profile than has-beens like I had.”

Stephen Cluxton receives most of the plaudits for the revolution of the position, and while Tierney credits the eight-time All-Ireland winner, he first saw it with another Dublin goalkeeper.

“The guy who probably started it all was John O’Leary from Dublin when he started with short kickouts and things like that. And Brian McAlinden in Armagh was another man who had short kickouts. They (short kickouts) were frowned upon in our day, now they’re a necessity. History has turned full circle for a goalkeeper. I would have enjoyed the short kickout because everyone said I’d a short kickout anyway!”

Rory Beggan and Niall Morgan’s display of ‘cat and mouse’ in the Ulster final was viewed as another progressive moment for the netminders job.

While Tierney believes there are positives and negatives to the roles progress, he embraces the change, unlike some past players and
supporters.

“There is pros and cons. Some old supporters can look at it… it’s all about possession in the modern game. The game has moved on in physicality and strength and speed and in pace. We saw that with the Tyrone team this year as well and we’re seeing it in club football. I’m not like that, I don’t hold on to the old bygone era. It was good at the time but it’s better now and goalkeepers are a much more valuable commodity now than they ever were.”

While the three-time Ulster
champion respects and admires the top ‘keepers in the modern game, he realises the pressure they are under as well.

“I think there’s much more science to it now. The goalkeeper’s under a lot more pressure, that’s the other side of it. They have to have the mentality to deal with the pressure of the goalkeeping position now. It’s no good just driving it out 65 yards and hoping that somebody gets it. We were evolving towards the end of my career and there were plans (kickout routines) in place.”

Tierney added: “Now a goalkeeper nearly knows every time where he’s going and Cluxton had just brought it to a whole new level. But now other goalkeepers are feeding into that, and managers are feeding into that and it’s not just about stopping it’s about creating now as a goalkeeper.”

Cluxton stepped away from the inter-county scene in 2020, but there are plenty of goalkeepers out there to pick up the mantle as the games number one.

“Obviously Cluxton was a master, he’s gone. I have a lot of time for Morgan and for Beggan. I’m in total admiration for what they’re doing, the Donegal ‘keeper (Shaun Patton) as well. We have a lot of them in Ulster and it’s great to watch them and their confidence and them bringing the position into the spotlight.”