Ciarán Thompson backs new GAA rules to shape the future of Gaelic football

Donegal player Ciaran Thompson believes that he can see a number of the new GAA rules coming into the game permanently and playing their part in how future football trainings and matches will be played and organised going forward.  

Thompson, alongside his Donegal teammate Dáire Ó Baoill was involved with the Ulster side that won their interprovincial semi-final on Friday night against Munster, with many of the new rules having an impact in their 0-23 to 2-11 win.  

The entire idea of the matches played in Croke Park on Friday and Saturday is to give the GAA and the public an idea regarding will the new rules have a major impact in how the game is played moving forward.  

“It was a nice opportunity to get the call and play for Ulster, it was something I haven’t got to do in nine or 10 years playing for Donegal, so it was something I really enjoyed,” Thompson said outside the Croke Park dressing room after the match.  

“We trained last Saturday and it was different because it was something you’re trying to get your head around (the new rules), but it was a great experience and even better when you get the win.  

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“The training we had last week was just an inhouse game really to get our heads around the rules and to get game time more than everything, so it was really just about going out to play.”  

With regards to the new rules, Thompson can see a lot of them becoming part and parcel of the new game, and while he believes it makes the game more exciting in terms of attacking, he admits that he has his doubts early doors on whether it makes it a better game, citing a lot of errors and turnovers in his match against Munster.  

“It’s a lot of change at once and it is hard to get your head around it but there’s a want to play more attacking football and those rules deliver it,” he told Donegal Live.  

“It’s interesting in terms that we you have to leave three men up, and as we saw tonight there was a lot of kick passing, but with that, a lot of turnovers.   

“So, I’m more on the mind where I don’t know if it’s a better game, but it’s definitely more open and more attacking, but more mistakes too and that probably comes from the fact that we’re only getting used to it.”  

But the Naomh Conaill man did admit that there were some aspects he would like to see stay in the game, especially the award of two points for a long-range score.  

“I suppose in terms of my own game, the two-point kick was something I definitely liked and you could take advantage of,” he said.  

“The tap-and-go is also great because you’re not being held up and you can break fast and it starts a counterattack quickly, so there are a lot of them rules that are good in that it speeds up the game.  

“It makes it harder too in getting up and down the field because the game is so quick now and so fast, but look, I think a few of them are really positive and I could see a number of them coming in.”  

Looking at the Donegal and inter-county scene going forward, Thompson feels the new rules will alter how teams prepare at county level and feels the counties who adapt the best to the new games will have a real shot at glory next season.  

And while he doesn’t go into too much detail of Donegal and their plans in 2025, he states that the idea is to just improve on what has been a fantastic season for Jim McGuinness’s team.  

“It was a brilliant 2024 for us in where we came from in 2023, to then come and win Division 2 and an Ulster championship, it was great but I suppose next season we want to make that extra step and get to an All-Ireland final, that won’t be easy and we know it’ll take a lot of hard work,” he said.  

“Look, our aim is to improve again from last year with Donegal and maybe blood a few more players into the team. If the new rules do come in, it’s going to be a massive change for teams and I think the team that adapts to them the best next season is going to go far in the championship.  

“So, these rules are going to change trainings and how teams set up, and a lot of next year’s planning for teams is going to be around these new rules.”