Connacht and Leinster have been confirmed as the first two provinces to trial potential new rule changes to Gaelic football, as part of Jim Gavin’s Football Review Committee initiative.
These experimental rules include awarding 4 points for a goal, 2 points for a point scored outside the 40-meter arc, requiring teams to retain three players in the opposing half at all times, and introducing a “solo and go” when a player is fouled.
The squads for all four provinces were revealed last night. Carlow’s Ross Dunphy and Mikey Bambrick feature in the Leinster lineup, alongside Stephen Cluxton, James McCarthy, and John Small. Connacht’s squad boasts top talents like Aidan O’Shea and Donie Smith and eight players from All-Ireland finalists Galway.
All-Ireland champions Armagh dominate the Ulster squad with nine representatives, as they prepare to face Munster in tomorrow evening’s second match at Croke Park.
The new rules will be put to the test in this unique provincial competition, with the losers of both ties set to meet in Saturday’s first match, while the winners will face off in the tournament’s final game, concluding the GAA’s latest experiment.