Masterson against square ball changes

Wexford goalkeeper Anthony Masterson fears the new square ball rule will create a whole new set of problems for Gaelic football.

Masterson looked on with interest as Saturday’s events at Congress unfolded in Laois.

In open play, attacking players will now be permitted to enter the small rectangle before the ball but not until it has been played. Pending a decision by Central Council next month, the new rule could come into force in time for the provincial championships.

On Twitter yesterday, Masterson thanked the GPA for his new gumshield. He joked: “Gonna need them now the square ball is gone.”

Irrespective of when it does come into operation, the Castletown man is anticipating goalkeepers coming in for a hard time of it.

“With a solution comes another problem,” he said. “Forwards will be coached to block out the ’keeper. I’m sure the referees will be briefed on it and they might be able to offer some protection. But I’ve a bad feeling we might see things like they were on [TG4] All-Ireland Gold and goalkeepers ending up in the nets with the ball!”

Masterson fully understands the reasoning behind the motion. As its proposer, former Armagh midfielder Jarlath Burns said there will be more goals scored. While it should help to avoid the controversies over the last two championships such as Benny Coulter’s goal v Kildare in 2010 as well as Graham Geraghty’s effort against Kildare in last year’s championship.

However, he thinks there will be more pressure on goalkeepers to win aerial battles with more long balls expected to be pumped into the goalmouth area.

“I understand it will be great for TV and matches but there will be carnage if something isn’t done for goalkeepers.

“Teams always like to come up with tactics and look for an edge. It might also help to get rid of the back defence. But I was looking at Down ’keeper Brendan McVeigh against Cork in Croke Park and he almost made a perfect catch. It just slipped and Cork were in for an easy goal.

“We’re going to see more of that happening now and it is going to be harder to field so many balls coming our way.

“It’s something our goalkeeping coach will have to work on with me, but you’d hope we’ll get a bit more protection.”