'Exciting' as former Derry footballer prepares for new Gaelic football rules
Conleith Gilligan has begun getting his head around the new rules ahead of next season
Former Derry inter-county footballer Conleith Gilligan believes it is an ‘exciting’ time for Gaelic football following the passing of the new rules.
The Football Rules Committee have successfully seen their proposals pass through Special Congress, and they will be implemented as early as January 2025.
Gilligan is currently coaching in the All-Ireland Champions, Armagh, set up, and believes it brings the sport back to a level playing field while speaking to Lee Costello on ‘The Puke Football Podcast’.
He said: “Even before the interprovincials, when it looked like these rules were coming in, we sort of knew then (to prepare mentally) because there didn’t seem to really be any doubt that they were coming in.
“It is exciting in many ways, because everything that went before is out the window, and it doesn’t matter what you did last year, how well you did last year, because the world has changed so profoundly that it is a blank sheet.
“Everybody is at the same level, and I suppose everybody is looking to see how they can make the new rules suit their players and their team.
“Armagh will be no different to Donegal, Dublin, or Kerry, in that you are looking to see how it works, because it won’t necessarily be the same as it was last year, so there is something very exciting about that.”
The first competitive game with the new rules will be the first weekend of the National League, when Derry begins the defence of their crown away in Tyrone while Gilligan will help prepare Armagh for a repeat of last season's All Ireland final when they square off with Galway.
Currently manager at Edendork in Tyrone, the Ballinderry native will be hopeful his home side can see out the final season with the current rules as Ulster Intermediate Champions when they face off in the rescheduled final against Arva after it was postponed due to Storm Darragh.