Inside Track: Does Gaelic football need further rule changes?

Prior to Jim Gavin and his committee – which included former Newtown Blues and Louth goalkeeper, Colm Nally – coming up with their masterplan, the game was losing its appeal.

This was reflected in the number of people turning up games, stand-out fixtures in particular. An example: Louth’s 2024 Leinster final with Dublin was watched by a little over 23,000.

Twelve months later, with the two-pointers, no passing back to the goalkeeper, and both halves populated by at least three from each side, along with the goalkeeper, part of the game, Louth’s epic win over Meath had an attendance of 66,000-plus.

The trend has been maintained, with Croke Park filled to the gills for this year’s two All-Ireland semi-finals and final.

A clear case of supporter approval, though it has to be said the novelty aspect of Louth’s meeting with Mayo was in some way responsible for the ‘house full’ sign going up for the first of them.

Like the many meetings of the sides in the past, Kerry’s meeting with Dublin the following day, had an attraction all of its own.

It might be going a bit far to suggest the game was dying on its feet, but there’s little doubt something had to be done.

The new game still has an element of what was prevalent before the rule changes were introduced.

Cross-field and back fisted passes continue to be part of teams’ strategy, oftentimes more than a dozen of them being strung together. Onlookers’ reaction is to fall silent, even in games watched by capacity attendances.

There could, in due course, be further changes. A committee, headed by Mayo’s Kevin McStay, has drawn up a list of changes which are to get a trial run in third level college football – the Sigerson Cup etc – next month. It’s only an experiment, with no suggestion next season’s football will be governed any different than it was over the past couple of years.

One of the changes relates to the handpass. There can only be three of them in succession before the ball must be kicked. Another of them: the ball cannot be passed – by hand or foot – back across the halfway mark once play is the opposition’s half of the pitch.

In nearly all of the matches played in Louth football this year there’s been at least one point scored from the fist. This would go. However, if the ball is added to in flight, the score stands.

Séamus Kenny, son of Paul Kenny, former Louth manager and coach to All-Ireland minor and under-21 All-Ireland-winning Meath teams, was another member of the committee, along with Maurice Fitzgerald, Conor McManus, John Tobin, Pat Doherty, Johnny Bradley and referee, David Coldrick.

Perhaps the most far-reaching change the group has suggested is that each goal be worth four points. This, you’d have to imagine, would dilute the value of the two-pointer.

“It’s nearly as good as a goal”, you’ll hear, but now it would only have half the value.

And on the question of two-pointers: It’s Inside Track’s opinion they should only be awarded for a score from play. It’s for this reason: one can be kicked from right on the line of the arc, yet a ‘45’, valued at just one point, is from further out.

Other changes suggested by McStay’s committee are: Kick-outs to travel just 13 metres instead of the current 40 metres: the use of the number of subs to be increased from five to six; extension of the 40m arc to the endline (which would reward every successful sideline-kick with two points); and where a mark is impeded, the free to be taken 50m upfield.

It is, as said, only an experiment. Would they all, or any of them, improve even further the game if added to the statute book? Or should well enough be left alone?

Anyone who wants to have a say, can email [email protected].