FERMANAGH manager Ryan McMenamin believes that “everybody is confused” by the latest raft of rule changes introduced to Gaelic Football this season.
Throughout McMenamin’s career physicality wasn’t just expected, it was demanded, but the game has moved on since his Tyrone heyday and modern defenders are being penalised for tackles that were par for the course a few years ago.
Last Saturday evening McMenamin’s Fermanagh conceded 10 points in frees against Longford at Brewster Park and during one spell in the first half almost every attack the visitors mounted yielded a placed ball scoring opportunity. McMenamin also had goalkeeper Chris Snow black-carded on the brink of half-time for a foul on Michael Quinn. Referee Liam Devenney decided, after consultation with his umpires, that the offence hadn’t prevented a clear goal-scoring opportunity and so Snow’s foul resulted in a free, not a penalty.
“I don’t think that rule brings anything to the game,” said McMenamin.
“It puts a lot of pressure on the referee to have to make another call on those situations. Looking at the black card, when I saw it, it looked to me that Chris was going for the ball. I really don’t think this rule was needed in football, it didn’t seem to be a problem in football that players were getting hauled down when they were going in for a goal.
“To me it was more of a hurling problem and the football has been dragged into it too. It’s hard on referees and again I don’t think it adds much to the game.”
Changes to the black card and advantage rules have increased the workload for referees and McMenamin says players, managers and supporters have been left confused by the new directives.
“It is difficult for everybody,” said the Dromore native.
“I think it’s difficult for defenders and it’s difficult for the referees too. I think probably too much is being thrown at the refs and they get the blame.
“On Saturday night (in the Tyrone versus Monaghan game) Darragh Canavan was straight through for a goal and the referee blew it back – with the new advantage rule now I think everybody is confused. There was been too much tinkering and referees are being assessed as well.
“Kieran McGeeney made the point that the tackle rule hasn’t really been defined. It’s hard but you just have to get on with it.
Mayo referee Devenney came down hard on the Fermanagh tackling on Saturday and McMenamin says he will work with his defenders this week in an effort to reduce the free count ahead of the promotion semi-final tussle with Offaly at Bord na Mona O'Connor Park on June 12 (6pm throw-in).
“It’s hard to know what to tell the boys because you could get a different referee who will look at the tackling differently,” said the Fermanagh manager.
“We’ll look at it in training and try and work a wee bit more on the tackle, improve our discipline and tighten up on it.
“But it’s one of those things, you have to roll with the punches because some days it’ll go for you and other days it won’t. We were lucky enough on Saturday but on another day the free-kick tally could have cost us so it’s something we need to be aware of.”
