Nestlé Health Science’s global leading brand Solgar, a provider of high-quality nutritional supplements, are pleased to announce an exciting new three-year partnership with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), the representative body for inter-county Gaelic Games players, becoming the official vitamin partner of the GAA/GPA. Solgar will also become one of the title sponsors of the GAA Museum, home to the rich sporting, social and cultural history of Gaelic Games. Pictured at the launch is brand ambassador Galway footballer Paul Conroy. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
By John Harrington
After two rounds of the Allianz Football League, what do the players themselves make of the new FRC rule enhancements?
Probably no-one better to ask than the reigning Footballer of the Year himself, Galway midfielder Paul Conroy.
He turns 36 in May but seems to have picked up where he left off last year with two high-quality performances for the Tribesmen in their League victories over Armagh and Mayo over the course of the past couple of weekends.
“I suppose the first thing I'd say, and I think it's been highlighted now, is that it's definitely a faster game,” says Conroy.
“The new rules have lent to that, to more running, more space, particularly around the middle of the field where you have to keep three up, three of your forwards.
“I think the first two weeks, maybe some of the play hasn't been as exciting as it will be in a couple of weeks. But that's based on the weather and the strong winds a lot of the time.
“I know in our first two games, particularly in the first one, there have been very strong winds in one of the halves so you can only kind of play so much football when it's like that. But overall I think it's very positive.
“I think every team is the same, they're just learning, coaches are learning, players are learning. It's all so new for us. But it's exciting, it's very exciting.
“Like, I think it was our second league game last year where we drew eight-all with Roscommon. Whereas this year there was over 40-plus scores in ours and Mayo's game.
“So, it's definitely a lot better to watch and I'm sure for players...well, for me anyway, I think it's very enjoyable to play in for the moment, yeah.”
Paul Conroy of Galway in action against Stephen Coen of Mayo during the 2024 Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Galway and Mayo at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
What has Conroy enjoyed most about Gaelic football under the new rules?
“I think just the kick-outs I suppose,” he replies. “For a midfielder, that most of them are going long, I think that's a big one.
“People like to see a contest and players like a contest as well. And, as well, the ability to be able to take more shots. I think before, it was all about percentages and working it into zones and where you'd kick from, whereas now, if you take a couple of two pointers and they don't go over, well, if you do get one or two of them you're still coming up with four or six points out of maybe five shots. They'd be the big ones for me.”
In recent years players were actively discouraged by managers to take on long-range shots that had a relatively low percentage of going between the posts.
Gaelic football had become such a possession-based sport that you couldn’t afford the risk of taking on a 50-50 shot because it might be quite some time before you got your hands on the ball again, never mind have another scoring opportunity.
Whereas now with two-points on offer for a shot converted from outside the 40-metre arc, there’s a greater chance you’ll accumulate if you speculate.
“Exactly, I suppose it's risk versus reward, isn't it,” says Conroy. “If there's a 50 percent zone outside an arc and it's only worth one point, it's probably not worth your while taking shots from out there.
“Whereas now with the reward for the two-pointers...yeah, I like the two-pointers, I think it's a big plus for the game and I think it encourages more shots and when they do go over they're good scores.
“Obviously it's a bit easier with a gale force wind behind you, I think we saw it up in the Armagh game on Saturday night there, but I suppose that will calm down in the spring and summer you'd imagine and it'll be more of an even playing field as such.”
Paul Conroy of Galway watches his attempt go over for a two point score during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Galway and Armagh at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
There have been quite a few matches this year where, after turning over the ball, teams didn’t get it forward as quickly as they possibly should have to their three forwards inside the opposition half.
Had they done so you felt there could be goal-chances available, but too often teams still seemed conditioned to pass short through the hands rather than put boot to leather and kick directly into their three up top.
Conroy believes as the season progresses we’ll see more and more teams exploit those opportunities and play more directly.
“I think probably that kick-pass, yeah,” he said when asked what facet of the game teams can still brush up more on.
“You always have to take the conditions into it at this time of the year, like, if it's really wet conditions a lot of the time it's hard to get the ball to stick inside.
“Number one, you have a defender up your backside and number two, you're trying to hold the ball in wet conditions. I think more kicking will become more evident as the months go on.
“As players get more used to it and as the weather dries up a bit, you will have to use the foot a bit more. Because you simply couldn't play that running game for the whole game because, you know, in terms of your fitness, it would have a massive effect.”
It’s still early days, but Galway already look like a team suited to the new rules.
They’re big and athletic in the middle third so have the ability to secure possession there from kick-outs, they have players very comfortable kicking scores outside the arc, and they have dangerous inside forwards who will profit from the three-up rule.
Paul Conroy of Galway during the 2024 GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Armagh and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
You wondered whether losing an All-Ireland Final they arguably should have won last year would drain them mentally, but so far at least it seems like they’ve returned for the new season in a very positive frame of mind.
“Yeah, for sure,” says Conroy. “I think we have a good panel of players, a good age bracket. Apart from myself most of the lads are a good age, a lot of lads in their early 20s as well that are just really dying to get game time and are trying to put the hand up.
“I think with the new rules it gives everyone almost a new freshness. I think the level of excitement that players have at the moment. I think they are enjoying football a bit more.
“I think if you asked any player in the country now, I’d imagine there wouldn’t be too many that would say that they’d like to go back to the old rules.”
“Look, it’s very early days. This time last year we had one draw from two games in the League and we got well beaten in our first game.
“We won’t be too carried away or anything like that. After the week break this week and the next block of three games you kind of have a fair idea maybe where teams are after five games.
“So, that should be a good teller.”
As for Conroy himself, he certainly looks capable of maintaining the standard that made him the best footballer in the country last year.
He thought long and hard about whether or not to return for an 18th season, but he’s enjoying his football so much now he’s glad he did.
“At the moment the way the game is with the new rules, I feel it suits me as a player,” he says.
“I like to kick the ball if I can and I don't mind competing aerially in the middle. There's a lot more kicking and kick-outs which kind of suits me as well.
“So I'm just king of enjoying football at the moment. I'm enjoying training, it's a lot more, I wouldn't say enjoyable, but there's a lot more kicking which is what players want.”