Harte feels football rules changes are not required

By Michael McMullan

DERRY manager Mickey Harte doesn’t feel rule changes are needed in Gaelic football and admits he isn’t a fan of the forward mark.

Speaking after Sunday’s win over Galway after watching Eoin McEvoy become the fourth member of this defence to find the net this season, Harte questioned why rules would need changed.

His comments came on the weekend when new GAA President Jarlath Burns tasked former Dublin manager Jim Gavin with heading a new committee to review Gaelic football.

“It makes you wonder why do we need to change the rules of the game,” Harte questioned when it was put to him the range of Derry goalscorers this season.

“People are talking about changing the rules and there seems to be a lot of discontent with what’s going on but I don’t think you need to change rules.

“Teams change the game,” he offered. “Teams adapt, teams adjust, teams do whatever is required to make the best of the game that is about at the minute and I think the game we have at the minute is very good.”

Harte admits he doesn’t like the forward mark but feels everything else in the game is “workable”.

He feels coaching teams have to work out the aspects of the game that are “not good to look at”, referring to players holding possession with no particular purpose.

“That isn’t good for people to watch,” Harte accepts. “I understand that but there is so much good about the game as well so I don’t think we just tear it up and write a new set of rules because one element of the game had taken a development that means one part of it isn’t good to look at.

“Last night’s (Saturday) game Dublin versus Kerry, same set of rules and a brilliant game.

“Tyrone versus Mayo in the first half wasn’t particularly good to look at but the second half was a really good game to look at, particularly if you were a Tyrone man. I don’t think we need to be getting so concerned about all these rule changes. Just let’s play the game and let it evolve because people have to work out ways of dealing with what they are confronted with.”