Kieran Donnelly to take charge of Ulster team for upcoming inter-provincial series

By Michael McMullan

FERMANAGH manager Kieran Donnelly will manage the Ulster team for the upcoming inter-provincial games later this month, Gaelic Life can confirm.

The Brookeborough man, now going into his fourth season as Erne manager, was approached by Football Review Committee Chairman Jim Gavin to look after the Ulster side.

The Irish Examiner have reported that John Cleary (Munster), Dessie Dolan (Leinster) and Pádhraic Joyce (Connacht) will manage the other teams.

The semi-final draws have yet to be confirmed but both games will place on Friday, October 18 in Croke Park.

The final and shield finals – also in Croke Park – will take place the following day.

All four games will be televised live between RTÉ and TG4 – two each.

The games are part of the Football Development Committee’s trial process for their new rule enhancements for Gaelic Football.

The latest game took place last weekend between Armagh and Dublin select sides.

The Football Review Committee recently released their seven core enhancements – and other points for consideration – ahead of the final stage of the process.

Among the rules are a new scoring system that awards two points for a score kicked outside a new 40-metre scoring arc.

There is a new proposal to ban a pass to the goalkeeper unless inside their own penalty area or beyond their own 65-metre line. A goal will be worth four points under the new proposals.

Any proposals that are finalised will be taken on board and in place for the 2025 season. With the absence of pre-season competitions such as the Dr McKenna Cup, any new rules will come into play for the first time competitively when the NFL commences.