News
In with the new…
Adam Moynihan was in Croke Park as the FRC unveiled their plans for the future of Gaelic football (and he liked what he saw)
At GAA HQ on Saturday night, as the clock ticked down to 0.00 at the end of the first quarter, the newly-introduced hooter burst into life and bellowed loudly around the mostly empty stadium. The tremendous noise almost startled the poor man in front of me out of his seat. The way Gaelic football has been going, maybe a shock to the system is exactly what we need.
There was a giddy atmosphere at Croker for the Inter-Provincial decider between Connacht and Ulster; I think we were all genuinely excited to see the Football Review Committee’s new proposals in the flesh.
The game itself was great fun, particularly in the closing minutes as Connacht snatched a draw before losing a comically bad penalty shootout. But that part was unimportant. The weekend’s matches were a showcase for the possible new rules and they were a resounding success in that regard. Of course that comes with the caveat that there was nothing really at stake and we won’t be able to properly judge the amendments until they’re trialled in competitive games.
With all that being said, I was very encouraged by what I saw. The 3v3 in each half of the field is a real game changer and of all the proposals on the table, I believe this is the most important.
The return to a more traditional shape with attacking players being stationed up the pitch made such a huge difference. Firstly, it prevented teams from implementing a blanket defence with 15 behind the ball. They could still bring back 12 - the change will not signal the end of the low block - but there was more space for attacking teams to exploit. And when the defenders forced a turnover and looked to transition to attack, they immediately had targets to aim at in the other half of the pitch.
All told, it led to quicker attacks, more kicking, and less possession-based football. Isn’t that exactly what we’re after?
TWO-POINTERS
As for the new scoring format, with goals being worth four points and shots from outside the 40-metre arc being worth two, the latter worked a lot better than the former. In fact, as I was writing this piece on Wednesday it was reported by Maurice Brosnan in the Irish Examiner that the four-pointer is being scrapped.
The two-point arc is a nice addition and, for me, anything that encourages guys like Rian O’Neill to shoot from distance more often is a plus.
Awarding two points for frees and 45s has been criticised by some and I agree on the 45s – in fact, it now appears that they will revert to one point – but the frees cannot be worth one if the arc is kept.
Picture the scene: it's the 2025 All-Ireland final. Shots outside the arc count for two points but frees count for one. Kerry are down by two. It’s the last play of the game. Seánie O'Shea receives the ball outside the arc and is about to go for a two-pointer to level the scores… What are the defenders going to do? Foul him. They know the one-pointer from a placed ball is no good to Seánie in that scenario. Therefore, you are encouraging cynical play by not making frees worth two.
If you think two-point frees from the edge of the arc are handy and the reward is too great, the solution is pretty simple. Don't foul around the edge of the arc.
OTHER CHANGES
The new kickout format, with the ball having to travel beyond the 40-metre arc, worked pretty well. There was a noticeable increase in contests. It was nice seeing Stephen Cluxton getting a bit rattled in the first game on Friday as he seemed to struggle to find his man. Pity it's 10 years too late.
One rule that might need some tweaking is the one pertaining to where on the pitch the keeper can receive the ball from a teammate. While banning the pass to the goalkeeper in his own half is a definite improvement as it cuts out the cowardly backpass (which in turn was leading to boring periods of uncontested possession), there is a loophole. The keeper can now only receive the ball from a teammate in the opposition half and when he gets up that high, as Niall Morgan did for Ulster on Saturday, the attacking team then have a 12v11 outfield advantage. This will undoubtedly lead to more piggy in the middle stuff.
It’s a definite sticking point and it could result in a more severe amendment to the rule, potentially signalling the end of passes to the goalkeeper entirely.
The solo and go is another ‘yes’ for me. We didn’t see as much of it as I expected over the weekend but it’s simple and it speeds up the game. The 50m penalty for dissent and for not handing the ball to an opponent when it’s their free are also positive steps.
One major rule ‘enhancement’ that we didn’t see in action, probably because there was nothing at stake in the games, was the new interpretation of the black card. If the FRC have their way, stopping an attack by holding a player (not just by pulling them down) will result in a sin-binning. That’s a necessary change in my opinion.
There are several other suggestions in the FRC’s masterplan and after witnessing them first-hand, I would be in favour of trialling basically all of them in the league next year, with some amendments and omissions as suggested above.
If they need further tailoring then or if they’re not fit for purpose, so be it. But change is badly needed and the vast majority of what I saw was smart, progressive and at least worthy of further exploration.
Eddie Sheehy named Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian recipient
Fossa resident Eddie Sheehy, founder of The Kenya Education Project, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award.
The former St Brigid’s Secondary College teacher will receive the Humanitarian Award Scroll, Medal, and the €3,000 O’Donoghue-Ring Bursary from Mayor of Killarney Councillor John O’Donoghue at an official ceremony in Killarney on Friday, October 30.
The award commemorates the wartime legacy of Killarney native Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, whose Rome Escape Line saved over 6,000 lives in Nazi-occupied Rome during the Second World War. Following a pause since spring 2020, the annual award resumed this year under the stewardship of Kerry County Council, the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, and the O’Donoghue-Ring Collection. The selection panel selected Mr Sheehy from 22 international and domestic nominations.
Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society Chairperson Jerry O’Grady praised the selection. “Eddie Sheehy is an outstanding example of what one individual with the support of his family and friends can do to enhance the lives of the poor and marginalised in our society,” he said.
Killarney Chamber President Johnny Maguire added: “We are delighted to continue to be associated with the Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian Award. His humanitarian work is an inspiration to us all – particularly in these difficult times across the world.”
Accepting the honour, Mr Sheehy said: “I am humbled to accept this award on behalf of all those that have helped with the project since it began back in 2003. Our vital work with the children of Embulbul, Kenya would not have been possible without the wonderful support we receive from schools, friends and local businesses.”
The Kenya Education Project
Founded in 2003 by Eddie Sheehy and his late wife Carmella following a volunteer trip to the Nakuru diocese, The Kenya Education Project supports the underprivileged community of Embulbul, Kenya. Starting with an annual table quiz in Killarney, the initiative initially focused on funding basic educational needs for the local primary school. Over the past two decades, the project has grown to encompass school food programmes, family support initiatives, local medical services, and funding an extension to a girls’ hostel at the local school, sustained by continuous support from Kerry schools and local businesses.
Previous Award Recipients
2009: GOAL aid workers Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki, held in captivity for 108 days in Darfur.
2010: Fr Michael Sinnott, Columban missionary abducted in the Philippines who returned to service after his release.
2011: Sally O’Neill, Trócaire Director of Operations who spent 40 years aiding crisis zones worldwide.
2012: Sr Agnes Hunt, former prison chaplain at Wormwood Scrubs and volunteer for the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas.
2013: Donal Walsh (Posthumous), 16-year-old Tralee teenager who inspired peers to value human life during his battle with cancer.
2014: Dr John Beavis, orthopaedic surgeon and founder of medical charity IDEALS, serving conflict zones in Gaza.
2015: Fr Sean Myers, Killarney-born Redemptorist missionary who spent 55 years serving oppressed communities in Northeast Brazil.
2016: Fr Shay Cullen, founder of the PREDA Foundation protecting exploited women and children in the Philippines.
2017: Sr Orla Treacy, Loreto nun who established primary and secondary schools in war-torn South Sudan.
2018: Ireland’s Rescue Services, honoring the RNLI, Irish Coast Guard, and Kerry Mountain Rescue volunteer teams.
2019: Ireland’s UN Peacekeepers, recognizing Irish Defence Forces personnel serving continuous global missions since 1958.
Adventure runner completes all Dublin streets
Killarney native Seanie Clifford has completed an extraordinary 25-day endurance challenge that saw him run all 4,400 named streets in Dublin while sleeping rough on the city’s pavements every night.
The local athlete completed his final stretch in the capital on Saturday, August 29, after covering a total distance of 2,000 kilometres. Running under the project banner 4400 Streets & Nowhere to Go, Clifford undertook the gruelling schedule to raise vital funds for Focus Ireland, Liberty Soup Run, and Dublin Homeless Awareness.
To mirror the reality faced by thousands of individuals across the country, the Killarney man spent 25 consecutive nights sleeping out on the very streets he ran during the day. Averaging close to 80 kilometres every 24 hours, he navigated heavy traffic, intense asphalt heat, and constant route adjustments alongside his partner and sole support crew member, Alicja.
Reflecting on the experience, Clifford praised the overwhelming backing he received from members of the public throughout the capital. He stated that he went into the challenge with extreme positivity and was rewarded with extraordinary kindness from people across Dublin, with residents from Ballymun to Donnybrook coming out to offer support.
Local support carries
By the midpoint of the challenge, physical exhaustion presented severe hurdles. However, local running clubs and individuals joined Clifford on various sections of the daily routes to assist his progress.
On Day 12, runners from Artane Beaumont Running Club and local supporters joined him on the road, allowing him to complete his daily 80-kilometre target ahead of schedule as community support carried him through the toughest miles.
The final stage of the run coincided with the release of official monthly figures from the Department of Housing, which recorded a record 17,527 people living in emergency accommodation across the country, including 5,659 children.
During the closing days of the project, Clifford was invited into Leinster House to meet with TDs and discuss the conditions he witnessed while sleeping on the streets. He stressed throughout the campaign that while his temporary homelessness would end with a return home to Kerry, thousands of families across Ireland remain without permanent shelter.
Triple Crown completed
Following his arrival at the final street, members of the national ultra-running community confirmed that Clifford had achieved what is widely regarded as the Triple Crown of Irish Endurance.
A former student of St Oliver’s Primary School and St Brendan’s College in Killarney, Clifford first set a national record in 2024 by running all 275 Irish mountains over 600 metres in 21 days. In 2025, he ran the entire 2,700-kilometre length of the Wild Atlantic Way from Malin Head to Kinsale in under 30 days.
Despite his previous mountain and coastal records, Clifford described the urban street challenge through Dublin as his most difficult undertaking to date.
Clifford, who now organises trail running retreats and uses endurance projects to highlight mental health and social issues, finished his final street run on Saturday afternoon to complete the historic trilogy of Irish endurance challenges.
Eddie Sheehy named Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian recipient
Eddie Sheehy named Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian recipient Fossa resident Eddie Sheehy, founder of The Kenya Education Project, has been named...
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