Football rules had to be changed – McEniff

BRIAN McENIFF predicts that all but one of the football rule changes will work well, but feels that an opportunity has been lost by not making it obligatory for kick-outs to pass the ‘45’.

The former All-Ireland winning manager with Donegal and Irish International Rules team boss is not in favour of the ‘mark’ in the attacking half, believing that it won’t do much for the game.

“I don’t know where they pulled that one from but the rest are very interesting. They will take a bit of getting used to, but I think people will come around to them,” he said.

“They are well worth a try. Something had to be done to make football more attractive. At least we’ll know after a few months of watching games with the new rules whether they’re the answer or not.

“It’s always good to try something different and I think most people would agree that the rules of football needed to be looked at,” he said.

He is disappointed that Central Council opted against the proposal for all kick-outs to pass the ‘45’, a decision which was made on the basis that, in certain circumstances, the kicker may not be able to get the required distance.

Meanwhile, McEniff’s Great Northern Hotel in Bundoran will host a special event on Saturday night to mark the 50th anniversary of the first All-Ireland club football final between St Joseph’s (Bundoran-Ballyshannon) and Dunmore MacHales (Galway).

McEniff was a part of the St. Joseph’s team that beat Dunmore, featuring Galway All-Ireland three-ina-row winners, Seamus Leydon, John and Tommy Keenan, John and Pat Donnellan, over a two-legged final in Ballyshannon and Tuam Stadium.

Dunmore’s Bertie Coleman was one of the driving forces behind the competition, which didn’t receive official GAA backing until 1970.

“Our two games with Dunmore were brilliant and did a lot to convince people the All-Ireland championship was a good idea. Bertie had been driving the idea for years – no one did more to get it off the ground,” said McEniff.