Jarlath Burns: Gaelic football's new rules going 'really well at club level'

Burns said that referees at club level "love" that discipline from players has improved. 

GAA president Jarlath Burns said the GAA would consider the addition of a third tier football championship if the appetite for its creation arises. Pic: ©INPHO/Leah Scholes

GAA president Jarlath Burns said there were concerns about how Gaelic football's new rules would translate to club level but those have now been allayed. 

"Now that the club leagues around the country are in full swing and we're watching it, I think it has gone really, really well at club level," Burns told RTÉ Radio One's Morning Ireland show.

"I'm talking to club referees all the time. They love the fact that the discipline has improved. If you just look at a statistic from the U20 All-Ireland final two weeks ago between Louth and Tyrone: No red cards, no black cards, no yellow cards - not even a tick. One of the big advantages from this has been the increase and the improvement in the discipline of the players.

"We are gradually changing that culture. Having to hand the ball over, after you give it away a free, it doesn't allow for anybody who is in the mood to be disruptive, or cantalach, as they would say in Irish, to achieve that. There is no benefit in doing that anymore."

Burns also said that the GAA would examine the addition of a third tier All-Ireland championship, joining the Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cups, should the demand from counties for its creation arise.

"We would always say that if there's an appetite around the country for that, in those counties, we would certainly consider that," said Burns.

"Last year, when we did the consultation, we do consultations all the time in the provinces. When we went to the provinces, we found that there was an appetite in Munster for it, but not in Leinster.

"We're not just ready for that yet. We don't want it to become a glorified Division 4 of the National League, because those teams already see each other. 

"And there is a big novelty if a team rocks up against Kildare, let's say, and beats them, or Fermanagh, or some of the teams that you might raise eyebrows at for being in it. These competitions don't lie. If you're in the Tailteann Cup, you're in it for a reason."