LEAGUE IS NOT A TRIAL

MEATH v DUBLIN MEATH manager Andy Mcentee says the National League is ‘too important’ to be used for experimenting new rules.

Up to five changes including a limit on consecutive hand passing and the introduction of a sin-bin could go on trial in spring.

GPA chiefs yesterday said their survey showed players are against the other proposals - a handpass restriction, forward sideline kick and kickout zoning proposals.

Mcentee’s Meath played Cavan in a challenge game under the new rules and was especially critical of the idea that all kick-outs must cross the 45m line.

Mcentee said: “My concern about implementing these new rules in the league is that it makes the league a bit of an experiment. And the league is important.”

Asked if he felt the league was simply too important for experimental rules, he said: “Yes, I think it is. It’s hugely important. I think everybody will say it’s the best competition we have.

“At the moment it’s the best competition we have because they’re all close games, it’s all tight and it’s week after week.

“So are you going to take a chance and play around with a really important competition? Doing it in the O’byrne

Cup or friendlies or whatever, I have no problem with that but the league I think is nearly too important to be experimenting with.”

• ANDY MCENTEE was speaking at the launch of the Sean Cox fundraising game (left) between Meath and Dublin in Navan on December 16. Around 1,000 tickets have already been sold and a capacity crowd of 10,000 is anticipated.