LGFA should consider two-point scoring arc, says Galway's Olivia Divilly

LGFA star Olivia Divilly of Kilkerrin-Clonberne in  Galway believes the LGFA should consider a two-point scoring arc for future contests. Picture: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

All-Ireland ladies football finalist Olivia Divilly reckons the LGFA should consider a two-point scoring arc for their game as well.

Jim Gavin's Football Review Committee have come up with a series of 'rules enhancements' for the men's game, including two points for a point scored on or beyond a new 4m arc.

The FRC has come up with over 20 other recommendations and will display them to the public in a two-day interprovincial tournament at Croke Park next month.

Other rules under consideration are four points for a goal, keeping at least three forwards high up the pitch at all times, a 'solo and go' option for restarts, and a new clock/hooter timing system.

Ladies football hasn't yet followed suit with its own trials and as far as experienced Galway attacker Divilly is concerned, it's not required.

Speaking at the launch of AIB's sponsorship of the All-Ireland ladies club football championship, the three-in-a-row winner with Kilkerrin-Clonberne said "revolution" isn't required in her game.

She acknowledged that doubling the score for a long-range point has merit and could work well.

"I think it would be lovely to have that two-point arc where it would encourage players to take those shots from further afield and maybe show off the scoring range and the kick-passing a little bit more," said Divilly, who isn't a fan of four points for a goal.

Jim Gavin speaking at a Football Review Committee Briefing in Croke Park.

"When you increase the scores for a goal from three to four points, I would imagine that teams are going to set up specifically not to concede goals. No team is going to want to let in a score of four. It's hard to tell. Teams will be going for more goals but then perhaps teams will also be defending more intensely as well to prevent those goals going in.

"It's difficult to know, it's maybe something we'll have to wait and see how it goes in the men's game. I'm sure it will probably be introduced on a trial basis initially and we can see how well it works and whether it's something that we'd be open to adapting into the LGFA as well."

The FRC are hopeful that keeping at least three forwards high up the field at all times in the game will help move teams away from cautious counter-attacking strategies.

Meath used their own version of a counter attacking strategy to win All-Irelands ladies titles in 2021 and 2022 though, according to Divilly, blanket defending isn't as much of a problem in the ladies game.

"Often in the men's game you have 15 players behind the ball at the moment — that doesn't happen to the same extent in ladies games," she said. 

"There does tend to be two or three players staying up the pitch at most times throughout the game.

"Maybe it's something that could be looked at but it's probably not as much of a challenge as it is in the men's game at the moment. Again, if a rule was introduced and it worked particularly well, I think the LGFA could look at introducing it as well."

Various ladies footballers have suggested that more physicality could be allowed in their game.

"I know there has been some debate about the frontal charge, and whether it's a foul for the player with the ball, or the player without the ball," said Divilly. 

"That might be something that could be looked at. In general, I think the hooter works very well, the yellow card, the sin bin, that all works very well.

"Maybe one or two minor amendments but I wouldn't be looking at revolution or really changing the game or anything."