Brid Stack says fitness levels mean new rules suit Cork 

CHANGES: Bríd Stack said she's been blown away by the speed of the game since the new rules came in. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Bríd Stack reckons the Cork ladies' 'through the roof' fitness levels have helped them to excel under the new rules.

Just up from Division 2, Cork are currently unbeaten and a point clear at the head of Division 1 with two group games to go.

Stack said she's been blown away by the speed of the game since the new rules came in, suggesting that some teams may even be overdoing the solo and go option as they 'absolutely love' it.

The 11-time All-Ireland winner is extremely positive about the changes overall, arguing that 'ladies football needed them as much as men's football', and she suggested that Cork's impressive conditioning has allowed them to take full advantage of the faster game.

"For the first time in 10 years, Cork went down to Division 2," said Stack, who was speaking at the launch of the LGFA's new campaign 'For The Love of Our Sport', ahead of International Women's Day.

"While at the time it was disappointing that the team was going through that transition, it was a much needed transition. There are a lot of girls that are now fully immersed in this Cork senior team and they're up playing Division 1 football and not just playing there but topping the table in Division 1.

"From what I saw last week, Cork are flying, their fitness levels are through the roof, as is needed for the new rules. They're just playing with a lot more cohesion and a lot more confidence.

"Confidence is massive in a young team and obviously Joe (Carroll) and his management are affording them that confidence and it's great to see them at the moment."

On the new rules, Stack, who had an AFLW stint late in her career, said the pace of the new game took her by surprise. She attended Cork's win over Waterford at Páirc Uí Rinn last weekend along with her former Cork colleague Rena Buckley.

"I could not get over the speed of the game," she said. "I was blowing black smoke just looking at some of the girls and how they were going up and down the field so much.

"Probably the biggest change of rule I have seen is the solo and go. Girls are implementing it probably too much because they absolutely love it, it just seems to be the one rule that they absolutely love. There's going to be a bit of tweaking in that but for now it has really made the game such a fantastic spectacle.

"No moreso than last week when it went down to a single point at the death for Katie Quirke to kick over, so I'm absolutely loving it."

Regarding integration of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie associations, Stack referenced GAA president-elect Derek Kent's comments that the 2027 target mightn't be met and that a more realistic target may be as late as 2034, when the GAA is 150 years old.

"I don't really think that's acceptable," she said. "There has been so much work, so much effort put in. There has been so much collaboration and so much cooperation so far to try to get it to this date. I think they have to dig the heels in and I think it has to go forward (in 2027).

"I think it will happen. And I think there would be an outcry if it didn't happen, to be honest."