Colgan happy to learn lessons ahead of Laois clash

It is often the loneliest place in the world. Standing between the sticks when nothing is going right, all the focus of the world is trained on a goalkeeper, but it is how the best react to setbacks that set them aside from others and Meath's number one Andy Colgan is certainly one of the best.

There have been times this year when the Donaghmore/Ashbourne man came in for stinging criticism, but in the face of that adversity Colgan's sole focus has always been the 'next ball', and that has served him well.
In February the Meath netminder made one of those mistakes when he wished the ground would have opened up and swallowed him, but instead he bounced back impressively and with the support of his manager, team mates and family he quickly bounced back in the next game against Armagh and produced several outstanding stops.
“These things happen when you play in goals, you are going to make mistakes and they are going to be highlighted,” Colgan told the Meath Chronicle.
“I went straight home that evening to play for the club in the A FL the next morning, so I got back on the saddle straight away, you can't dwell on these things.
“If you dwell on them then you'll end up making the same mistake again. I just got my head down and worked hard at training, got it right and had a good performance the next time out.
“Even against Offaly I had a few dodgy kickouts, but I still felt confident. The lads still believed in me and we got it right in the end.
“I don't dwell on mistakes, that would be the end of you as a goalkeeper if you dwell on things. Playing at such a high level, these things happen, especially in goals where it is highlighted more. I just always try to think about the next ball, next kickout, next catch.
“Making a decent save after the few bad kickouts against Offaly helped me recover quickly, but even after the first bad one I still felt confident with my kicking ability. The save obviously helped because it gee'd us up a bit and we went straight up the field and got a score.
“I'm very hard on myself. Even between myself and my Dad we would be very honest, he has always told me exactly how it is.
“Andy (McEntee) is as honest as they come too and he certainly tells you how it is and I like that. Andy tells you out straight, he tells you when you make mistakes and he tells you 'you need to this' or 'you need to do that', I really like that in a manager.
“Even when I wasn't playing with the club last year I was in touch with Andy the whole time and he told me I needed to knuckle down, get myself fitter and I feel I have done that and I'm heading in the right direction. I still have a good bit to go, but I'm working hard.
“I love playing in goals, it's bad when you make a mistake, but I love kicking the ball out and making saves.
“It is a tough position. You are going to get slated for every little mistake, but it's good, I love it.
“I'm not as mad as a few lads, I like to keep myself a bit grounded, but you do have to be a bit mad to be a goalkeeper. It's always about the next ball,” said the Donaghmore/Ashbourne man.
Now in just his second full season with the seniors Colgan is looking forward to playing his third game in the Leinster SFC in the same season for the first time and he is eager to see Meath continue to make progress.
After a decent league display, Meath struggled to get over Offaly and Colgan admits that that game felt like a loss and they were determined to put it right against Carlow.
He is convinced that Meath need to continue to raise their game and that Laois will provide an even tougher challenge next Sunday with a place in the Leinster SFC final at stake.
“I don't think we were nervous (before the first round). We were ready for Offaly, but it just didn't happen for us how we would have liked on the day. To be honest it felt like a loss after the game because we just didn't perform,” admitted Colgan.
“We had went so well during
the league, but didn't perform against Offaly. We knew we were 
so much better than that, we got lucky with the goal and that helped us.
“We knew we couldn't rely on that luck against Carlow, so we kicked on and hopefully we'll up our game again against Laois. We have to keep raising our standards.
“There is still stuff we can do better. No disrespect to Carlow, but we will come up against stronger teams this year and Laois are another step up again, we have to get rid of our sloppiness and kick on,” he insisted.
Relatively new to the goalkeeper position Colgan played a lot of underage soccer at centre-back with Ashbourne Utd, but with Donaghmore/Ashbourne he was coaxed into goals by current Meath logistics manager Michael Doherty and he hasn't looked back.
Given his break in the Donaghmore/Ashbourne senior team at just 17 years old by Andy McEntee was a huge boost of confidence for the goalkeeper and this year training with Marcus Brennan under the guidance of Gary Rogers has also helped bring on his game.
“Marky (Brennan) is top class. Even when I was growing up as a young lad and started playing in goals with the senior team 
at 17 years old I always knew
about Marcus Brennan, the O'Mahonys 'keeper, and what a great keeper he was and still is,” said Colgan.
“Gary (Rogers) is brilliant too. I'd never really done much goalkeeping practice before because I only really started playing in goals when I was 17.
“The training with Gary is class. It is the small little things he points out. You might think you are doing well, but he will make small little adjustments that make such a big difference, he has given me a lot of confidence,” concluded Colgan who is looking forward to playing in Croke Park for the second time this year.