Dunne doubts there's appetite for more GAA rule changes

Former Offaly forward Nigel Dunne has questioned whether there is a sufficient appetite amongst the GAA public for further rule changes in Gaelic football.

Several tweaks will be trialled over the coming months in third level Ryan Cup fixtures, following research and discussion amongst members of the Expert Advisory Group, which is chaired by former Mayo player and manager Kevin McStay.

The EAG - which was formed following the work of the Football Review Committee - is charged with monitoring trends in the game and has come up with a number of proposals to be introduced in the coming months.

Among the key proposals is the banning of fisted points (unless the ball is already in flight), limiting the number of consecutive handpasses to three and awarding four points for a goal.

A backcourt rule, whereby the ball cannot return back over the halfway line, and a modified kickout rule, where the ball is no longer required to travel beyond the two-point arc, are also included in the slate of changes.

Speaking on the latest episode of the RTÉ GAA Podcast, recorded live at the National Ploughing Championships near Tullamore, Dunne pondered whether the FRC changes from late 2024 should be let bed in for a longer period.

"In isolation they're fine and I don’t disagree with them but the problem is why change now?

"Why not let us enjoy what we’ve enjoyed and bask in it for a little bit longer. I don’t think people want to even hear talk about rule changes, they want to hear that when the game is not in a good state, when we have dour quarter finals, semi finals and teams are dropping back and its handpass mania.

"At the moment, we have a good product so just give us a few years to enjoy it."

Dunne - who is currently preparing for an Offaly club championship semi-final with Shamrocks - believes supporters may become weary of consistent changes to the rules.

"Is there appetite for change? I really don’t think so.

"We spent a year in the build up to the last rule change, I just think people will get bored if we push that narrative again, that’s my honest opinion

"If we were to put up on screen here the 2024 All Ireland and the 2026 All Ireland, people would think watching it that they’re totally different sports, so what we have now is a really really good product. I’d just say let it settle in."

Dunne will be one of those keeping a keen eye on developments as he plans for his first introduction to senior inter-county management as a member of Mike Solan’s ticket in the Faithful County.

The change is management came about following the departure of Mickey Harte and Declan Kelly at the end of last season - a campaign in which Offaly suffered relegation from Division Two before falling short against eventual champions Wicklow in the Tailteann Cup semi-finals.

Solan - who guided Longford to promotion from Division Four earlier in 2026 - will be supported by fellow Mayo man Joe Keane in the new role and Dunne says he’s excited at the prospect of attempting to improve the county’s fortunes alongside the two men from the west.

"Very grateful to get the opportunity,"

"I’ve worked with the underage teams over the last few years and already I see the big step up in what’s required but with Joe and Mike I’m going to learn a lot.

"We’re very much in the honeymoon period so results will dictate whether people are as enthusiastic in three or four months time or not."

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