RULES TRIAL IS CRAZY
Returning Mayo boss feels for referees ahead of FBD opener
JAMES HORAN has become the latest county boss to question the experimental rules, calling them “a little bit crazy”.
Five rules are currently being trialled in the pre-season competitions and though Central Council will deliberate on them further at its January 19 meeting, as of now the trial period is set to continue in the Allianz Football League.
The most disruptive of the rules is the restriction of the handpass to three in succession, followed by the advanced mark, which allows a free kick for a ball caught cleanly following a kickpass of 20 metres or more from outside the 45 to inside.
The experimental rules also see the sanction for a black card changed to a 10-minute period in the sin bin and decree that sideline kicks must go forward unless inside the 20-metre line and that kickouts be taken from the 20-metre line.
With the FBD League only getting underway this weekend, Mayo haven’t been exposed to the new rules in a competitive setting as yet.
Several county managers have been critical, with Carlow’s Turlough O’brien the most vocal.
Last weekend, Donegal boss Declan Bonner described the rules as a “waste of time” while Westmeath’s Jack Cooney said that the handpass restriction slows the game down, though Kildare supremo Cian O’neill is broadly supportive of them. But Horan is particularly concerned about how it will make life much more difficult for referees.
He said: “Let’s see how they are. I wouldn’t be a fan of them. I think they’re a little bit crazy to be honest. I don’t know what we’re trying to do to referees, how they’re going to be refereed I just don’t know.
“You’ve seen it in quite a lot of the games already.. there’s going to be a struggle so I’m not sure what’s going to be brought in for the Leagues. We’ve done a little bit of work on it and make sure that the players understand it.”
Having resumed as Mayo manager after four years, Horan’s side travel to take on Leitrim in the FBD League opener and he’s looking forward to running the rule over the squad.
“We’ve some very exciting talent in Mayo,” he told Mayo GAA TV. “We saw that in the under-20 campaign last year.
“The Colm Morans, the Conor Diskins, Ryan O’donoghue is injured but really looking forward to seeing him come back in, the Brian Reapes and Fionn Mcdonaghs. Ciaran Treacy from Ballina has shown very, very well so there’s a lot of guys that are ready, which is great for us.”
Having not lifted silverware since the
2015 Connacht title,
Horan said: “We’re going out to win the FBD League for a start. It’d be great to get that feeling again.”