Kelly defends new rules

GAA President Sean Kelly has defended the timing of the new rule experiments, following criticism of the sin bin in particular.

The Kerry native was speaking at Dublin Airport ahead of his departure with the AllStars' tour to Hong Kong.

Kelly said: "Some people have questioned the timing of the experiments but when else could you do it? There is a very limited number of opportunities to experiment with rules, so the various warm-up competitions stood out as the obvious time."

He added: "The only other competitions would have been the league or the championship, and that’s just not feasible."

However, he conceded that the sin bin rule will have to be rethought, following criticism from managers Mick O'Dwyer, Padraig Nolan and Sean Boylan.