'It's unfair on refs' - McCabe highlights issues with new rules
GAA news
Westmeath senior football manager Dermot McCabe has highlighted issues with the new Gaelic football rules.
“It’s a tough game now. On my watch, it was at 41 minutes (the second half) and that was at quite high intensity for the month of February, which is crazy,” said McCabe after his side lost by a point to Cork, their third successive narrow defeat.
“I don’t know how lads, who have to be at work in the morning, are going to survive that.”
While Westmeath have proven proficient at scoring two-pointers, McCabe is not a fan of the rule, he told the Irish Independent.
“The two-pointers are just strange. I can’t understand them, to be honest. It’s getting more and more like 11-a-side basketball. There’s just set-up and structures that have to be done to create and prevent scores.”
McCabe also highlighted issues around kick-outs.
“We’re missing a good bit of experience as regards fielders so lads are really trying to step up and get it to ground.
“I felt at times it was close to a line-out. A lot of Cork players were blocking runners. That seemed to be allowed so I’m interested is that the format going forward?
“Can I practise during the week that I’m going to stop five jumpers in order to get my jumper up? Because that appeared to be what was allowed.
“My biggest difficulty with the rules is consistency. I saw a programme during the week and the ref has 500 decisions to make. The new rules have probably turned that into 700 decisions.
“They have to be consistent and that’s a difficult thing for the refs to do. It’s hugely unfair on the refs.”
The Gowna clubman also raised potential issues around the 'solo-and-go' rule.
“Everyone seems to be in favour of the solo-and-go but the question has to be asked, is that immediate? Is that within four steps? Was he touched within four steps?
“There’s an additional four or five decisions on one of the rules. If he throws it to a man, he’s allowed to take four steps so you can gain eight steps.
“They’re all decisions a ref has to make in a split second with lots of people communicating to him and shouting to him. I just think it’s unfair on referees.”
Westmeath aim to welcome back key midfielders Ray Connellan and Brian Guerin back for “the latter stages of the League”, he confirmed.
“We don’t like moral victories but every lad tried his hardest.
“The lads are stepping up. We’re one of the youngest teams in all the divisions of the National League and they’re giving us everything.
“We could’ve got something out of definitely two of the three games. Them couple of late scores are just hard to take.”
McCabe, who is employed as Games Development Manager with Cavan GAA, will manage against Cavan for the first time this Sunday in the National League in Cusack Park, Mullingar (2pm).