Champions League and Ulster SFC in the mix
His attention will be on the draw for the 2013/2014 Champions League next Monday, but Bohermeen man and Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Gary Rogers will also be focused on Cavan’s preparations for the forthcoming Ulster SFC semi-final against Monaghan on Saturday 29th June.
Currently recharging the batteries from his full-time role as the top goalkeeper in the Airtricity League with defending champions Sligo Rovers during the mid-season break, Rogers is also indulging his passion for Gaelic games through a coaching role with Terry Hyalnd’s swashbuckling Ulster title-chasers Cavan.
After helping Sligo Rovers to a 5-2 victory against UCD last Saturday night it was straight to Brewster Park in Enniskillen on Sunday morning for the former Meath footballer who is very much looking forward to his first taste of Champions League action next month.
Rogers previously enjoyed a stint as Meath GAA goalkeeping coach and he has now taken on a similar role with Cavan since earlier this year.
“The GAA has always been an important part of my life and while I miss playing, coaching is the next best thing,” Rogers told the Meath Chronicle after Cavan’s victory at Brewster Park on Sunday.
“At the moment I take one session a week with the goalkeepers and that sits in nicely with my schedule,' he commented.
The Meath man also coaches a club team in Sligo, Shamrock Gaels, an intermediate side from the Riverstown area where many of the Sligo Rovers players live.
Rogers attention will be focused on the Champions League draw next Monday and will return to Airtricity League action with Sligo Rovers on Friday 28th June when the Connacht side visit Tolka Park to tackle Shelbourne.
“We face a lot of travelling over the next few weeks, a trip to Dublin to play Shelbourne, a trip to Limerick on Monday 1st July for a League Cup quarter-final and then a trip to Cork on Friday 5th July,” he said.
“After that our next game could be away in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
“I’ll also be keeping an eye on Meath’s results in the Leinster SFC semi-final against Wexford on Sunday 30th June, hopefully they will make it to the final,” he added.
Conall Collier