Mac's View: New rules could be troublesome for Donegal

I was surprised that all of the proposed rule changes were passed at the Special Congress at the weekend. I was even more surprised that there was so little dissension or debate on the new proposals.

It seems like a huge step to make so many changes at the one time and I’m not that sure that they will suit  us as a county. What was the biggest surprise is that they are going to be used at all levels, county and club, which is going to make it very difficult for referees at club level.

There is a lot to take in and it will be interesting to see how the county coaches deal with the changes in the coming months. All the intercounty squads will be back in full-training from this weekend and there will be numerous challenge matches being arranged for January in preparation for the National League.

I see that the head of the committee that proposed the new rules, former Dublin manager, Jim Gavin, has urged counties to open up the challenge games to the public to give them a chance to see the rules in action. It is a pity that they didn’t leave the provincial tournaments like the Dr McKenna Cup and that would have been the perfect preparation for intercounty teams.

The National League in 2025 will take on even greater importance now not alone for intercounty teams but also for club managers and coaches who will be watching with interest.

I was thinking about the changes over the past few weeks and the similarities with Australian Rules football. There will be a lot of work to be done now between the two ‘45s’, especially when you take out the six players that have to stay back or up front. It will be demanding on those players if they want to hold on to the ball for long periods.

It will be a huge challenge for players also just to get their heads around so many changes. Making so many alterations at the one time - only time will tell if it works. There is a review at the end of the league and we will know better then.

Last weekend in Donegal we had two more finals in the U-21 Championship and congratulations are in order for Four Masters and Cloughaneely. I didn’t get in to see the A final in Fr Tierney Park because of a severe toothache but I’m told it was one of the best games played all year.

Four Masters are laden with talented young footballers and a lot of work has also gone into the young players of Glenswilly and I was glad to see that big Neil Gallagher is at the helm as manager.

These are the players that Jim McGuinness will be looking at for the next few years and both sides are very young with, I’m told, only one player is overage for next year in Donegal Town and just two on the Glenswilly side. These two sides will be favourites to meet again in next year’s final and Glenswilly lost out narrowly to Gaoth Dobhair last year.

Congratulations also to Cloughaneely on winning the U-21B against Burt. The two games were a great advertisement for Gaelic football and for the future of Donegal.

There will be a good Donegal interest in the Ulster club final this weekend with Donegal Town pair Karl Lacey and Barry Dunnion involved with Kilcoo. It is a hard game to call as you have the Canavans on one side and then in Kilcoo you have the Brannigans and the Johnstons. I’m looking forward to a very good contest but I’m sure St Eunan’s must be kicking themselves that they are not there.

The club competition is great for players and congratulations to Coolera-Strandhill of Sligo, who pulled off a shock by winning the Connacht title against Padraig Pearses of Roscommon on Sunday. We played that Strandhill side in challenge games and they are a strong, physical side. The Roscommon champions missed a few chances in the first half, but Coolera stuck at it and got a huge reward in extra-time. Congratulations to Sean Taylor, formerly of Aodh Ruadh, who played a big part at full-back.

They now meet Dublin side Cuala, who won in Leinster, in the All-Ireland semi-final in January and it is such a great boost for Sligo football. And our neighbours, Grange-Cliffoney, will be wondering if it could have been them as they only lost out after a replay in the Sligo final.

Good luck to Four Masters minors, who set out in the defence of the Ulster Minor title this weekend when they play Scotstown. I really enjoyed the article in the Democrat last week on the Killybegs minors of 1984, winning Donegal and Ulster.

Also congratulations to our former Bundoran manager, Barney Curran and the Downings Ladies, who are through to the All-Ireland final after they defeated Kilcock in the semi-final last week. It is a great achievement for the club and good luck in the final.

Next week is a big week in the county at administrative level with the Co Convention being held in Pettigo. I always have a soft spot for Pettigo and I’m hoping to get along to attend on the night. 

Finally this week, my sympathy to the McMenamin family, Donegal Town on the death of Margaret McMenamin, wife of Danny, who is one of Donegal’s greatest supporters. Danny was not only a great supporter, but also a great link between the county team and their main sponsor Magee of Donegal. Sympathy to Danny and the family at this sad time.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell