‘These are the best days of your life’ - O’Toole

Maitiú Monaghan

Ryan O’Toole is developing a bit of a reputation for scoring goals.

The Scotstown full-back is fondly remembered around Monaghan for his goal in injury-time against Tyrone in the 2024 Ulster Senior Football Championship.

That goal came in the 76th minute and sealed Monaghan’s victory. Coming in at an angle, O’Toole shot low, nutmegging the keeper before he ran off celebrating with a clenched fist raised.

His goal in Sunday’s county final was less dramatic, but equally important. With the game in the balance midway through the first-half, the full-back once again found himself through on goal. Once again, he aimed low, and buried a shot underneath the on-rushing goalkeeper.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

“I just wanted to hit it low and hard,” O’Toole told the Celt at full-time, “and not change my mind.

“If I got a good enough strike along the ground, it had a chance of going in,” he explained.

“If I had tried to place it, maybe something could go wrong, so I just tried to keep it as simple as possible and stay in a clear headspace.”

As for the celebration? This time O’Toole spread his arms wide, waving them coolly as he wheeled off towards the Gerry Arthurs Stand.

“These are such good days, and they’re not guaranteed. So you have to enjoy it.

“We’ll go out tonight, tomorrow, and enjoy each other’s company. Then it’s all about resetting after that. But here, we’ll definitely enjoy it. We always do. I think if you’re not, you’re wasting your time even trying, even playing, even bothering, because it’s the best days of your life and you have to enjoy them.”

O’Toole’s Scotstown debut came in 2018. Since then he has established himself as both Scotstown and Monaghan’s go-to man marker, most notably picking up Ryan O’Donoghue against Mayo earlier this year.

A teacher by trade, O’Toole has spent time living and working in south county Dublin, a fact his team-mates won’t let him forget.

“I really, really got into the South Dublin spirit,” O’Toole explained. “You know, flat whites and sea swims and coffees and stuff.

“The lads just slag me off about being from D4 and living up there and stuff. I definitely love the lifestyle up there.

“It is two different worlds I’m living in. Here, I’ll always miss D4 and I’ll always miss the craic that was up there, but Scotstown’s my home at the end of the day.”

The Celt lets O’Toole know that Dalkey club Cuala have just won the Dublin Senior Football Championship. Would a transfer interest him?

“Never.”