Changes to new Gaelic football rules with four-point goal set to be scrapped

Examiner Sport understands that a goal will revert to three points, and 45s will now only be worth one point. 

SCRAPPED: Connacht's Aidan O'Shea scores a four-point goal in last Friday's Allianz GAA Football Interprovincial Championship semi-final. Pic: Stephen Marken/Sportsfile

The four points for a goal rule change is set to be scrapped as the Football Review Committee continue to prepare its draft report for Gaelic football’s new rule enhancements.

Last weekend the FRC’s seven-core enhancements were trialled in Croke Park for the interprovincial series. Players and managers provided extensive feedback and the Jim Gavin-chaired committee are set to make several changes. 

The value of a goal will remain at three points and a 45-metre kick is now set to be worth one point, having between worth two last weekend. 

A 30-second limit on free-takers is now on the agenda in a bid to speed the game up.

Over the course of Friday and Saturday, there was some criticism of the scoring system. Armagh captain Aidan Forker told RTÉ it was an issue in the final.

“Rian was actually shouting at me, Aidan what’s the score? It was definitely hard that last play, we felt we probably played it wrong in terms of dropping back and inviting the two-pointer, we weren’t 100% sure of the total because it is so fast and scores go over so quickly. Trying to think clearly in that moment, it probably needs to be totals on the scoreboard.” 

As well as the proposed rule enhancements, the FRC has produced a series of recommendations separate from the motions that will go to Special Congress on November 30. 

These include the enforcement of four steps, the establishment of a Game Intelligence Unit and an inter-change substitution format.