'We're the guinea pigs': Hurling's rule trials bring frustration and early encouragement

In the first game played under hurling's experimental rules, Maynooth University defeated UCD. The requirement for a clear striking action with a handpass caused frustration but referee Chris Mooney felt the allowance of six steps sped up the game

Referee Chris Mooney throws in the sliotar for the HE Division 1 hurling league clash of UCD and Maynooth University. Pic: Clubber TV

It took less than a game for Maynooth University manager Crónan Dooley to identify what he considered a loophole in hurling’s experimental rules and encourage his players to exploit it.

In the first game played under the rules, Maynooth defeated UCD 2-18 to 1-17 in the Higher Education Division 1 hurling league at Belfield. Under the new rules, at least three players from each team must remain between the 20m and 45m lines for puck-outs. As Maynooth led late on, Dooley told his backs to stand inside the 20m line, meaning the referee had to stop the game and tell them to come out. 

"I think they have missed a trick," Dooley told Clubber TV, referencing the hurling expert review group, "in that there’s no consequence for the backs delaying play. We were encouraging our backs to step inside the 21 when UCD are chasing a game. There’s possibly something there to correct if they are going to carry it forward."

One of the other new rules requires players to handpass with a clear and definite strike of the hand. Maynooth forward Michael Brennan found it frustrating as the requirement for clear separation between hand and ball gives defenders an increased chance to get a touch on the sliotar. 

"I found the handpass was the one that we struggled with the most," said the Kilkenny native.

"It’s hard to get clear separation if someone’s bottling you up and someone’s going to come in and flick it away. We tried to eliminate it at half-time by using the [Brick] flick, so we wouldn’t be called as much.

"I’d probably change it back the way it was. Especially when people are tackling, it’s nearly impossible to get clear separation without getting a flick across it."

"So far so good" says tonights referee Chris Mooney as he gives his analysis on the first half of hurling with the new rules👀🎙️@HigherEdGAA | #ClubberTV📺 pic.twitter.com/VstEeeE02D

— Clubber (@clubber) October 20, 2026

Maynooth were penalised for what were deemed illegal handpasses several times in the first half. Another of the experimental rules means teams are prohibited from playing two consecutive handpasses.

"You’re probably discouraging handpassing altogether, which I don’t know if I’m in favour of either," said Dooley.

"Like Chris [Mooney, the referee] mentioned, every handpass that he pulled for tonight, he probably should have been pulling them for the last five or six years. He is a very experienced referee. He knows exactly what he’s doing.

"But there is a frustration in that as well. A wing-back out here on his own, twice, handpassed the ball to one of our players, with no one near him and in loads of space. The consequence was a free shot for UCD over the bar. He was on his own.

"That’s the frustration you have to get used to. Lots of people say something has to be done about the handpass. I prefer the idea of either switching hands to handpass or off the hurley to handpass.

"We’re trying it. We’re the guinea pigs and lads are going to get frustrated."

In what may be a first in Gaelic games, referee Chris Mooney was interviewed at half-time on Clubber TV. The Dubliner thought the new rule allowing the sliotar to be carried in the hand for six steps rather than four sped up the game. 

"I’m actually really surprised by the steps," he said.

"It was probably about halfway through the first half before I thought I might have one to blow. I thought that would be on my mind a lot more throughout the game.

"There was one incident, which is what I believe it’s intended for: A player was caught in a ruck and he escaped out of the ruck because he did the extra two steps and got a shot away. I feel it’s actually benefited the speed of the game."

Oisín Moore➡️Michael Brennan... AGAIN

Another fantastic sideline and Brennan gets his goal to take his tally to 1-11 on the night🤯@HigherEdGAA | #ClubberTV📺 pic.twitter.com/vYaWfSPxV0

— Clubber (@clubber) October 20, 2026

Mooney found policing the puck-out, which also has to travel beyond the 45m line, a logistical juggling act. 

"The puck-out is an interesting one," he said.

"You’re writing a score, you’re watching to see if it’s wide, is it a 65, whatever it is, and then you’re trying to count to six at the same time."

Dooley felt he did not encourage his players to utilise the six steps enough. 

"We probably didn’t get them to run at the player enough or turn their toes towards goal sooner," he said. "That’s one learning curve that will test the referee as well. By running at the player a little bit more, you might create more goal chances."

UCD manager Johnny McGlynn wondered how the new rules will work when conditions are not so favourable.

"Tonight was a lovely evening for hurling," he said.

"Billings Park is in fantastic condition and two good teams, really highly skilled teams, went at it and it was quick.

"I’d be worried about it in a National League game in February where it’s pissing rain and it’s muck and it’s slurry everywhere. I think you’ll see a ruck starting to form then when lads are dropping ball."