Leave square ball rule be, says Quirke

ALL-IRELAND winning Cork football goalkeeper Alan Quirke believes abolishing the square ball rule would be “a terrible idea”.

The new standing playing rules committee, which was introduced following a successful motion at Congress this year, are believed to be examining the possibility of getting rid of the rule, after a number of controversial decisions this year but the Valley Rovers netminder insists the rule should stay the way it is.

“It would be a terrible idea,” admitted Quirke. “They’re talking about going back to the old rule (trialled in last year’s National League) whereby once the ball is delivered, you can enter the square but that’s effectively like an offside rule. The referee has to be able to see where the ball has been kicked from maybe 60 yards, to look at a fella being tackled, and also have an idea when the opposing forward is entering the square. You can’t police it. I think the existing rule is easier to police, even though it’s not perfect.”