Carlow boss Turlough O'Brien 'gobsmacked' by rule changes

Carlow manager Turlough O'Brien has told Sky Sports how he is "gobsmacked" by the proposed rule changes to Gaelic football.

The GAA confirmed on Tuesday that there are five rule changes on the table for Gaelic football, with a view for them to be trialed in the 2019 National League.

The confirmation was met with a mixed reaction and O'Brien told Sky Sports of his displeasure at the moves.

"I am gobsmacked by the new rules," he said. "I'm stunned at the number of rules they're putting forward for a start, and that some of them are so unrealistic, I can't understand why they've done it. They're saying, 'you've got to play a certain way, and the way is simple; 1940s, catch and kick, and wear your flat cap'.

"I think the game today, there are issues but none of these are dealing with it. I mean the biggest issue in the game for me is the tackle, and there's no mention of it anywhere. They haven't addressed it. As a result, we end up with all of these controversial black cards."

O'Brien feels that the amendments will not send the game in the right direction.

"We're going to go to sin bins, which I've no problem with. But the sin bin for two yellows now is extraordinary, considering it was a red card offence previous to this, and now you're going to reward these people by letting them back into the game. That seems like an anomaly straight away.

"I think it's restrictive, they want [us] to play a certain way. It's restricting the hand pass, sideline kicks, and this unbelievably bizarre idea to restrict the kick-outs to two vs two in the middle third of the field is just, I just don't know where they're coming from with that. I just don't know."

The Barrowsiders manager suggested that these rule changes are being brought in due to calls from a few vocal figures.

"I think they're responding to the very vocal criticism of a number of analysts, really. That's driving a lot of this in my opinion.

"I just think these are regressive. I think these people (making the rules), they're not involved in coaching the game, they're not involved in playing the game at the moment. And I think they're being influenced by two or three analysts. Every time you pick up a newspaper, there are two or three analysts who are criticising the game of football."

O'Brien went on to argue that the League is not an appropriate platform to trial these rules, given how important it can be to the likes of Carlow.

"I think the fact that they want to trial it in the National Football League is outrageous. We're working very hard to get to Division 3, and now we're going to be subjected to trial rules where players aren't familiar with it, and it could cost you relegation and promotion in the National Football League, the second major competition they have. I think it's mad.

"To treat it like this is going to disrespect the competition. It's going to infuriate. Some teams are going to suffer because these rules are being trialed in this major competition."

These rules are not yet confirmed, with stakeholders to give their thoughts over the course of October.

"They emailed a survey to be completed by managers and players. So it's important everyone does respond to that and let them know what they think of it."