“I haven’t talked to any player who would not be a fan. All good so far.”
In his 18th season with Galway, 35-year-old Paul Conroy is one of the most experienced inter-county players and has played through multiple eras. Few are better placed to provide an informed view on the GAA’s new football rules.
Two weeks into the new NFL season and the Tribesmen are looking strong, exacting revenge for last year’s All-Ireland final loss to Armagh, before defeating close rivals Mayo by 10 points at MacHale Park on Sunday.
The 2024 GAA/GPA Player of the Year was in good spirits regarding the results, but also spoke positively about the new rules.
He said: “From speaking to players and stakeholders in the game, the reaction to it has been very, very positive in terms of playing the game.
“The scores are up, the shots are up and the level of entertainment is up. I haven’t talked to any player who would not be a fan. All good so far.”
However, he singled out one ‘unnatural’ rule which he feels needs tweaking before the more serious games begin in the summer.
Conroy added: “I would be a big fan of the ‘3 up’; the kickouts going past the 40 metres; and the two-point award from outside the arc.
“Handing the ball back to the player, I think that is a bit unnatural and you wouldn’t like to think of a big game down the line hinging on a call where one player did not gift the ball back to the opposition.
“With the tap and go the opposing team are starting at a disadvantage in any event. Obviously, they don’t want fellas throwing the ball away after giving away a free, so they’ll have to find some sort of a balance I think.”
The new rules state that a free will be brought forward 50m if the player who has committed a foul must hand the ball back to his closest opponent.
