RTÉ get rules clarification

RTÉ pundits met GAA officials on Saturday to get a rundown on new football rules as well as interpreting rules in both codes ahead of this year’s championship coverage.

The briefing in Croke Park was requested by RTÉ to try ensure commentators and analysts are au fait with the black card, advantage rule and hurling issues such as the 20-metre free. GAA director of games administration and player welfare Feargal McGill and national match officials manager Pat Doherty addressed the group.

Pat Spillane said: “We had a presentation... what I notice is they are handing out yellow instead of the black — it’s the easy option.”

Spillane warned there remain a lot of grey areas in deciding what’s deliberate and what’s not. “Aidan O’Shea against Kildare, they said it was a definite black card. I’d suggest it wasn’t deliberate.

“Croke Park officials were accepting Conor McHugh for example should have been sent off [black card] in the U21 [All-Ireland] final. “Look at Eddie Kinsella — four minutes and 20 seconds to send off Richie Feeney and he was right. I wonder’ll happen in an All-Ireland final or semi-final? Doubt it.”