'You get five days to do something different' - Cleary hits out at timing of FRC tweaks

While Cork manager welcomes changes, he agrees with other bosses who are suggesting the integrity of the league campaign has been "tarnished"

PLENTY TO PONDER: Cork manager John Cleary during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Down and Cork at Páirc Esler in Newry, Down. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Cork manager John Cleary has welcomed the tweaks to Gaelic football’s experimental rules but has seriously questioned the timing of them.

All six amendments were endorsed by Central Council on Monday night with the results of the votes being released by the GAA on Tuesday morning.

The changes will come into effect from this weekend’s Allianz Football League Round 6 fixtures and counties have a deadline of May 1 to introduce them at club level.

As Cork face Louth in a crucial Division 2 game this Sunday that could a long way to deciding their place in the Sam Maguire Cup, Cleary fears the introduction of the adjustments at the business end of the league could impact the fairness of the competition.

“The tweaks have come about because of what has been seen in the previous games,” he said. “From our point of view and I know from others in the mix of the competition, I don’t know if it’s particularly fair that they are changed midstream.

“We have been preparing since December for the changes in the rules and the next thing you get five days to do something different. I welcome the tweaks but I don’t think it’s the right time to be doing it in the middle of the competition.” 

A number of counties who have been in touch with the Irish Examiner and contacted by this newspaper have suggested the changes such as accidental breaches of the three-up rule could warp score difference, which will decide finishing places if three or more teams finish on the same number of points.

“The integrity of the competition is now in question,” claimed another manager. “The intentions for change are good but the integrity has obviously been tarnished and in hindsight they should have come up with a system where there was no relegation or promotion.” 

Cleary shares the same worries. 

“It’s a different game now and it’ll be a concern if we come out on the wrong side of it definitely," he added. "Even before it comes to fruition, it has to be a concern and the teams most affected by it are those facing relegation from Division 1 to Division 2 and those in Division 2 like ourselves who are fighting to get into the Sam Maguire and maybe avoid relegation as well.

“It’s a big deal for us and I’d be concerned that we’re playing under two different sets of rules in the one competition with five days’ notice. I can’t understand why the rules were held off until the end of the league and brought in for the championship so everybody started off on a level playing field from the off.” 

The timing aside, Cleary is glad that the 12 v 11 overload has been resolved as teams must now retain four players in their own half at all times and that quartet need not include a goalkeeper.

He is most pleased that players winning kick-out marks will be able to play on immediately and not be challenged for four metres. “The previous rule definitely caused a lot of confusion. A player would catch a ball and somebody tackled them and the confusion then was they fouled or was it a mark. We got caught once or twice and lads said afterwards they thought it was a mark but then the referee would say it was a free and they weren’t aware of that.” The end of each half being confirmed with a score, wide or sideline after the hooter has sounded has also received Cleary’s backing. “The hooter one is fair enough because of what was happening in a couple of matches. Now everyone knows how where it is. Having said that, you had Westmeath suffer.” The clock/hooter will be in operation for the Division 3 and 4 finals in Croke Park at the end of the month. Up to now, the technology has only been used in Division 1 and 2 matches. It was also confirmed the system will apply to all championship games starting with next month’s provincial fixtures.

All of the six playing motions received over 93% support from the 46 Central Council delegates. The closest vote was the deadline date for the amendments to be operative at club level with 59% support for May 1.