By Niall Gartland

LAST weekend’s All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-finals certainly weren’t lacking in entertainment value, and former Antrim footballer Patrick McBride says the new rules have been a revelation.

In a wide-ranging interview that will be published next week, McBride, who doesn’t rule out an intercounty return after stepping aside earlier in the season, acclaimed the quality of the four knock-out contests last weekend.

He said that the combined enhancements have not only made for a much better viewing experience, but make much easier for previously beleaguered forwards, citing his own experiences playing at club level in particular.

“I absolutely love the new rules. The solo and go has been great, and keeping three up has been brilliant as well.

“One of my best mates, Fitzy [Matthew Fitzpatrick], he’s playing with Linfield. We played with St John’s for years and you had two marking him and two marking me sometimes. You were getting doubled up and even if you got past them, there was a full blanket in front of you.

“He left before the new rules and if he’d stayed, we’d have had some joy together.”

“The two-point rule is brilliant as well because teams have to press out a bit which leaves space behind, and you can shoot over the top of it. The solo and go is class as well, because the game flows more. There’s no point fouling, because they’re away.”

McBride also says that referees play a massive role in facilitating contests as a spectacle.

“The games at Croke Park at the weekend were absolutely brilliant. It’s not just the rules, it’s the referees as well.

“I’m a big fan of Paul Falloon, the games are even better again because you have to work very hard
to get a free at both ends of the pitch.

“You’ll see good, physical hits and tackles. If someone goes down easily, the other team will win the ball so players are having to fight to stay on their feet.”