Mac's View: Rule amendments look like being adopted

The recent rule amendments in Gaelic football were further tweaked in recent weeks and all of them look like they will be adopted at the Special Congress which is being held in early October.

Last weekend Central Council gave the green light to two tweaks to the changes, one of which was central in a recent championship game here in Gaelic Park, Bundoran between ourselves and Naomh Padraig, Muff. Bundoran lost the game to a late two pointer but earlier in the game they had what they thought was a two point score ruled out, possibly because it was touched before going over.

That rule has now been amended and the two point score, if hit from outside the 40m arc, will still be awarded even if it is touched in flight.

Bundoran lodged an objection at the time but lost out at Donegal level. There isn't much need now to bring it any further, especially as the club are through to the quarter-finals of the championship, but they have made their point.

The other amendment that was approved by Central Council at the weekend is that the game will end once the hooter goes, with the exceptions where the ball is in flight or a free kick, sideline or '45' has been awarded.

I suppose the hooter change came about after the incident at the end of the All-Ireland final when Kerry kept the ball for up to two minutes before the hooter went and then had further time to set up a score with David Clifford firing over a two pointer.

I think both changes are sensible as they eliminate a couple of anomalies. I'd imagine that they will be given the green light at the Special Congress in October.

DONEGAL SFC

The final round of games in the Michael Murphy Donegal Senior Championship threw up a few big results with Glenfin's massive score against Ardara among them. It didn't save them from the relegation battle in the end but they went mighty close with a late Ardara goal depriving them of what would have been the result of the championship to date.

Fair play to Four Masters for going to Dungloe and they would have won but for a late score from Dungloe, which gave them a share of the spoils.

Gaoth Dobhair are looking good and after defeating MacCumhaill's, will fancy themselves to be involved in the eventual outcome.

The other result which stood out was St Michael's going to Glenties and going home with the win. I know Naomh Conaill are minus their main man in Ciaran Thompson but St Michael's, after losing their opening game, are going well and they have a huge weapon in Michael Langan.

Kilcar's big win over Glenswilly looked impressive and the new rules seem to suit Kilcar, who are a running team. I know Glenswilly didn't have much to play for as they were already in the preliminary quarter-finals, but Kilcar have a tasty enough forward line and if they have Eoin McHugh back for the quarter-finals they could go far.

St Naul's had a good win over Downings but it wasn't enough to save them while Hugh McFadden was on fire for Killybegs against Ballyshannon, who are just not going well.

St Eunan's got over the line against Termon, but they are not looking like champions, but then that's a good young Termon side, who have already won the league.

However, the real championship begins this weekend with the knock-out games. There are no second chances or back doors from now on in. But then it's hard to believe that for some clubs the football is over in the second week of September. I'm saying it again, we have to look at something different. In other times we had a Shield competition. If we don't have games boys will go off and play soccer, but we should be providing games for them; even regional competition.

THIS WEEKEND

We have four games in the Senior and Intermediate championship as well as relegation play-offs.

Killybegs and Naomh Conaill meet in Ardara on Saturday evening and they had a couple of good battles in recent years. There is much to ponder on this; Naomh Conaill go in as favourites but Killybegs have their county men in form. I will give a marginal call to Naomh Conaill.

MacCumhaill's meet Downings and if Oisin Gallen, who went off towards the end of last week's game, is missing then this could be close. If MacCumhaill's have Gallen then they would have enough.

I'd have to give the nod to St Eunan's against Termon, but they need to pull up their socks if they are interested in retaining their senior championship.

In the final game I fancy Four Masters especially as it seems Michael Murphy will not be available to Glenswilly. But the Glen men are good in knock-out games but I think Four Masters are getting better.

In the two relegation play-offs I have to think that Glenfin, based on form, will beat Aodh Ruadh and while I'm not sure about Ardara, they might have the edge on St Naul's.

READ NEXT: All the scoring stats in Donegal SFC after four rounds

In the Intermediate Championship I have a fancy for Red Hughs (against Bundoran); Naomh Columba (against Buncrana); Naomh Padraig, Muff (against Malin) and Milford (against Naomh Muire).

We played both Muff and Malin in Bundoran and should have beaten both, but that’s another story.

Finally this week, congratulations to Mark McHugh on his appointment as Westmeath senior manager. It’s good to see young coaches and managers spreading their wings and getting exposure at the highest level. I see also that Declan Bonner and Paul Brennan are being interviewed for the Fermanagh senior manager post and they look like being appointed.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell