It would be stretching it to say Brian Ó Beaglaoich felt sorry for Donegal last July but within a few months he could empathise with them.
Faced with the same daunting task of stymieing David and Paudie Clifford in September’s Kerry intermediate final, the An Ghaeltacht man was perplexed.
Man-mark or go zonal?
A significant wind meant Ó Beaglaoich attacked one half and shadowed the younger Clifford for the other and ultimately it all paid off.
“We had serious headaches all that week,” recalls Ó Beaglaoich. “Trying to think of what are we going to do with the two boys (David and Paudie).
“I even met with our coach on the Friday evening before the final. We were like: ‘Are we going to push up on them or are we going to sit back and protect the lads who are marking David and Paudie?’
“We came away from it after two hours and we still didn’t really know what we were going to do. I came away with a sore throat, worrying about the game.
“It is hard to know. When you win, it is the right thing to do. When you lose, it is not. I think there is a time and a place for it. Probably a balance of both. When you are pressing up, you are leaving yourself open at the back. People are probably going to be giving out saying you are very open at the back.
“If you are set up well and there are teams holding the ball, they are giving out then you are giving up possession. It is going to be a catch 22 in a way.”
His successful pursuits with An Ghaeltacht and a persistent calf injury which has flared up at this time of year for the fourth consecutive season means Ó Beaglaoich won’t be making the trip to Ballyshannon on Sunday for the latest bout with Donegal.
After Jim McGuinness stoutly defended his coaching practices last weekend, the 29-year-old can understand why Donegal didn’t assign a specific player to Paudie Clifford six months ago.
“If you push out on Paudie, you are probably leaving more gaps at the back. It is hard enough to balance.”
As good as Kerry were upon getting to Croke Park last year, it’s Ó Beaglaoich’s assertion that “nobody has fully figured out the best solution yet” with the new rules.
One of them is the 50-metre advancement, which Ó Beaglaoich readily acknowledges benefitted An Ghaeltacht in their All-Ireland semi-final win over Sallins earlier this month.
But after seeing the harsh call against Mike Breen on Sunday, he would like to see it changed.
“I think it would be better if you just put the ball on the ground. I think that cuts out a bit of the messing. It probably cuts out them trying to manoeuvre a two-pointer there.
“It’s a good rule and the fact it does not slow down the play. But what you saw at the weekend there, that has happened in a few games now.
“It is a tough one, really. It is probably tough on referees, too, because they are keeping an eye on the free and are also trying to keep an eye on what is happening up the pitch as well.”
And sure Ó Beaglaoich was delighted that tyro Tomás Kennedy fisted over the winning point against Roscommon, but he much prefers the previous working of the clock/hooter too and the siren signalling the last play.
“It is probably going to cause a bit of trouble later in the year when games are going to be so tight. It is going to be tiny margins.
“If someone is passing over the bar, kicking right on the hooter, it is very hard to decide whether they have gotten it off before or after the hooter.”
Ó Beaglaoich didn’t make the All-Ireland club champions’s jamboree in Dingle last weekend – most of the An Ghaeltacht crew had ventured to Kanturk to celebrate in their adopted midfielder Aidan Walsh’s hometown.
The club’s achievement has yet to sink in with him and it may take some time as his focus turns to the county.
“We had serious craic for the four or five days after. It was great having the group together. It is special. But once those few days are over, your mind switches. I’m trying to get ready for pre-season and looking ahead to Kerry.”
