Paul Conroy thinks new rules have eliminated 'extreme' elements of Gaelic football

Conroy believes we will see more kick passing as the season progresses.

Galway footballer Paul Conroy said he doesn't see "any negative side to being able to use six subs". Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy reckons the 'extreme' elements of Gaelic football, including his opening point in last year's All-Ireland final, have been eliminated from the game.

Conroy memorably hit the first score of the 2024 final against Armagh when he curled over a long-range score after a whopping 37 passes in a row by Galway, 32 of which were hand-passes.

The Tribesmen won the throw-in that day and played a game of keep-ball for nearly three minutes as Armagh dropped everyone back.

Seven months or so later, football looks a lot different with a new suite of attack-minded rules that Galway, currently top of Division 1, are fully embracing.

Solgar has announced a new three-year partnership with the GAA and GPA, becoming their official vitamin partner. Solgar will also become one of the title sponsors of the GAA Museum. Pictured at the launch is brand ambassador Galway footballer Paul Conroy. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

They've already kicked eight two-pointers in two league games, one of which was a Shane Walsh score last weekend against Mayo which came off a piece of innovation around the new throw-in.

All of which looks a lot different to those first three minutes of non-engagement in last year's All-Ireland final when Galway played pass-the-parcel with the ball outside Armagh's defensive screen.

"I think it would kind of be unlikely that you would see something to that extreme," said Conroy when asked if the opening minutes of last year's final could be repeated this year.

"I suppose it was just the way the game was last year, you can only play what's in front of you. I haven't seen much of that (this year), maybe a small bit of it against a strong wind but it's harder to do. Teams will press you more now.

"And obviously not being able to use the goalkeeper inside your own half, that's a big one. There are definitely more opportunities for teams to press now which is big, it's good."

Galway ended up making 347 hand-passes in last year's final against Armagh, and 22-in-a-row at one stage, though the Football Review Committee declined to put any limits on hand-passing or chains of passing.

"I don't have a massive issue with it at the moment, maybe it's something that will appear more as the league goes on," said Conroy. "But it doesn't strike me as something I'd say has to be changed instantly."

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Conroy predicted that there will be further innovation under the new rules around kicking and said we can expect foot-pass figures to rise in the coming weeks and months. Galway made a whopping six hand-passes for every one kick-pass in last year's All-Ireland final.

"I think more kicking will become evident as the months go on," he said. "As players get more used to it and as the weather dries up a bit, you will have to use the foot a bit more. Because you simply couldn't play that running game for the whole game, in terms of your fitness, it would have a massive effect."

Substitutes

Jim McGuinness and Dessie Farrell have called for an extra substitute to be permitted, to reflect the increasing demands on players. Conroy isn't against it.

"I don't see any negative side to being able to use six subs," he said.

The 35-year-old said the bottom line for him is that football is more enjoyable now and that, given the choice, he'd take the current suite of rules over last year's and happily move forward.

"A lot of people now would sooner put on a match on TV than maybe before when they wouldn't have," he said. "There was too much lateral stuff and too much boring kind of play."

Two-point scores

If Conroy could roll back any aspect of the new rules, it would be around awarding two points for a free converted beyond the 40m arc.

"I think that could be one, if there was one (rule) to change," he said. "I don't know if that will stay. With the infringement of not keeping your three players in the half, the referee brings the ball in for a 20m free that you can then bring back out (of the arc). Yeah, I'd say that could be one that might change."

Ironically, if two-point scores had been part of the game last year, Galway would have beaten Armagh in the All-Ireland final by a point.

"I suppose Armagh kind of set up in whatever you would call it, a low block," recalled Conroy. "Look, it's just great at the moment that you can take those shots. Now, you almost get, I wouldn't say a licence to shoot all the time, but you have to look at the risk/reward in it. If you can put over a two-pointer, it is a big reward."

A clean bill of injuries is helping Galway currently with Damien Comer the only high profile absentee.

"He is back doing a bit of running and stuff," said Conroy. "Hopefully he will be back later in the league."

*Paul Conroy was speaking at the announcement that Solgar is an official partner of the GAA Museum and the new vitamin partner of the GAA/GPA.