ANTRIM defender Patrick Gallagher is convinced the new hand pass rule in football will see less goals in games and will create chaos for teams trying to prepare for the National League.
The Glenavy man criticised the timing of the new rules – including the three consecutive hand pass rule and sideline kicks outside of a team’s 13-metre line having to go forward.
The fact that the GAA initially decreed the new rules would be trialled during the National League only to change their approach and agree to a review at the end of the province’s subsidiary competitions, Gallagher says, suggests a “disconnect” between the GAA’s top brass and coaches and players.
For Antrim, there is a lot riding on their NFL campaign. They will once again attempt to get out of Division Four but the introduction of the new rules are ill-timed, according to Gallagher.
Championship tiers in football could work: Antrim defender Patrick Gallagher
“You could have three, four or five games in the McKenna Cup and then you’ll have to [potentially] change again,” said Gallagher.
“We’re basically training with the new rules for the McKenna Cup but they’ll be reviewed after that. The GPA lobbied for that after their membership voted overwhelmingly to have them reviewed before the NFL.
“You also have to remember the McKenna Cup is not a muck about, it’s used to prepare for the League.”
“I think the new rules are a wee bit reactionary when you listen to the criticism of the game you hear on TV.
"But the players were also surveyed and it was something like 97 per cent were against the new hand pass rule. I know players can find themselves in opposition a lot of the time but when you see those figures…
“The fact that they were initially going to be trialled in the League shows a bit of a disconnect there. The League is no longer a warm-up for the Championship. It’s very important to us. It’s what we’re training for. The League is important to everyone.”
Gallagher thinks the new sin bin rule and the tweaks to the kick-out will be beneficial but doesn’t seem any redeeming features to limiting a team to three consecutive hand passes before they are forced to kick the ball.
“I think the hand pass rule is a bit mad and is changing the game quite radically,” he said.
“Goals are going to decrease because you see so many coming from quick hand passing. Everyone saw Corofin’s goal in the All-Ireland Club final and the great hand passing that led to it.
“You’re still going to have players kicking the ball away or backwards. You’ll see a lot of players just hoofing the ball forwards just to get it away or turning around, kicking it back and restarting again.
“The new hand pass rule makes it easier for us defenders, but it doesn’t actually make the game any better. It might make it easier for defenders to stop goals.
“We played a challenge match against St Mary’s and it was a lot harder for them to come through on goal because there were a few occasions when they would have been blown up for another hand pass and they had to kick it.”
He added: “The other worry is they could get rid of the three hand pass rule for the League and in the meantime defences could get lazy. So you might have a case where you’re not preparing properly because you don’t think the opposition can cut through you as easily.”
“I also think the sideline rule is a bit silly. If you take it quickly before defences set up it could work, but if you’re sideline gets delayed and the fact that you can only kick it forward, you could end up just kicking the ball away rather than picking a pass. I think the sin bin is a good rule and the new kick-out won’t make much difference. The [attacking] ‘mark’ one could be interesting.
“If you’re going to make very fundamental changes to the game they are trialling it at very short notice and I don’t think they [GAA’s Standing Committee on Playing Rules] are being clear about what the new rules are meant to do.
“The game possibly does need a few tweaks, but some of these new rules are far more than tweaks – this is a complete revamp. And I’d also be critical of the timing of it. There is an awful lot happening in the one go."
