DOWN goalkeeper Charlie Smyth will join Monaghan’s Rory Beggan and Wicklow’s Mark Jackson in American Football’s shop window at a combine in Indianapolis from February 27 to March 4.
Scouts from all 32 NFL teams will watch the three GAA goalkeepers, Connacht an Ireland U20 rugby international Darragh Leader and the best young hopefuls from the US College Football system taking kick-offs, kicking field goals and making punts. Their performances will be monitored for distance and accuracy over the week-long trial and those who impress will win a place in the NFL draft and with it the potential of fame and fortune.
Smyth, an Ulster U20 winner who made his Down senior debut last season, Beggan and Jackson all impressed during a two-stage selection process at Loughborough University and Dublin last month.
Tyrone and Dungannon Swifts goalkeeper Niall Morgan came agonisingly close to joining them in Indianapolis.
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The 2020 All-Ireland-winner averaged 73 yards when kicking at Loughborough and was number two in the rankings. But he had an off-day at the Dublin follow-up and his average of 63 yards (the benchmark for NFL kickers is 65 yards) meant he slipped back to sixth in the rankings and missed out.
“I was asked about it and I thought I would give it a go,” said a philosophical Morgan.
“I was happy to try it and when I performed really well the first day I was thinking: ‘Jesus, there’s an actual chance of this happening’ but between the two trials I was nearly doubting whether it was the right thing for me.
“With a wife and two kids at home we’d all have to up-sticks and move and get career-breaks and all that. But I stuck at it and let them (the NFL scouts) make the decision for me which ultimately they ended up doing. It was disappointing – when you try something you want to succeed – but it wasn’t to be.”
Every cloud has a silver lining. Attending the next phase of the NFL trial process would have meant missing part of Tyrone’s Division One campaign and could have spelt the end of his inter-county career.
The Edendork netminder is now looking forward to returning to action with the Red Hands in next month’s Dr McKenna Cup and getting back to winning ways.
“We’ve had two poor years and there’s no doubting that we need to start proving a point to ourselves that we still can be competitive,” he said.
“It’s all about getting back on the wagon and getting things going again and I’m looking forward to it.
“This is my 12th year now and people are starting to ask me: ‘Are you gonna retire soon?’ and I’m hearing a lot of: ‘Ah, you’ve a year or two left in ye yet’ but I’ve absolutely no notion of retiring. Until a manager comes to me and tells me my time’s up, I’ll keep going. I’m seriously proud to wear the Tyrone jersey every time I go out and I’m hoping they play me in the McKenna Cup now so I can get a few more appearances under my belt.”
At 32, Morgan has years ahead of him at inter-county level as the return of Stephen Cluxton – an All-Ireland winner at 42 with Dublin last season – illustrated.
“I’m taking a lot of heart from Cluxton coming back,” said Morgan.
“I can play on for a number of years. If I can be a role-model for my kids to go on and achieve something in life at a high level I’ll be happy with that. It’s about making the people who worked with me at a young age proud and so far I think I’m doing alright at it and hopefully I can continue to do that.”