Brendan Kealy: Mark rule will be all about finding runners

Kerry’s All Star goalkeeper Brendan Kealy believes the new mark rule will encourage teams to find players in space catching kick-outs than increase high fielding.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice pointed out the rule doesn’t necessarily promote overhead catches, as a ball need only be cleanly caught from a kick-out on or past the 45-metre line.

Kealy is of the same mind. “That’s where I see it going, picking out runners, rather than the long kicks between two fellas like 30 years ago. It’ll probably be more about precision-type kicks for runners. Teams though will still want to put it up 50-50 and it seems that’s what the GAA wants in bringing in the rules.”

Kealy, though, has welcomed the introduction of the rule. “When they trialled it before (in 2010 National League), I thought it was pretty good. It will make kick-outs even more tactical. They want to bring in the longer kick-outs again but the short kick-out will still be there and some teams will see it as even more valuable to keep it short. It’s a progression of the game that teams value possession more, which is understandable. I don’t know if it will bring back bigger men around the middle of the field. Maybe for certain parts of the game.”

He has no issue with the rule coming in this year. Central Council will decide on its start date later this month.

“If it came in this year, you’d get the hang of it because it’s part of the game already when you’re looking long and for runners. But it’d be ideal to get a chance to work on it a bit. It’s still a big change; to bring it in without a trial in the league is probably not ideal. If it comes in we’ll deal with it.”