Morgan supports changing the new kickout rules

Niall Morgan says he supports all but one of the new proposed football rules after experiencing them when he produced a man-of-the-match performance in Ulster’s interprovincial semi-final win over Munster on Friday night.

The new rules were tested on the road for the first time when Connacht beat Leinster 4-21 to 1-11 and Morgan helped Ulster fend off Munster 0-23 to 2-11.

The Tyrone star’s performance showed that goalkeepers can still be used as an attacking option under the new rules, as he repeatedly took a two-point shot from outside the 40-yard arc and charged into opposition territory.

“The back pass was necessary because the game had become a bit boring. Even as goalkeepers, we noticed that,” Morgan said of the rule that prohibits teammates from passing the ball back to the goalkeeper unless both are in the large rectangle.

“But I’m glad they didn’t completely pin us to the posts. The sport has become more and more attractive to goalkeepers in recent years and I would have regretted it if that was no longer the case.

Morgan’s only real criticism of the seven major rule changes proposed by the Football Review Committee, led by Jim Gavin, is that goalkeepers are not allowed to take short kickouts, where the ball must leave the new 40-yard arc , provided it is not intercepted by the opponent.

“In February, in gale-force winds at Salthill in Galway, with six six-foot-two men, you might end up just throwing the ball out. “You would hate to lose your skills because of the kick-out.” the Edendork man added.

“That’s probably the only rule I don’t support right now.”

Morgan accepted the general consensus after Friday night’s two competitions that a real reflection on the merits of the new rules will only become apparent if they are given the green light for use during the Allianz Football League in the late winter and spring.

“Hopefully the game changes for the better. I don’t know if we’ll see that tonight and tomorrow. “It won’t be until the games are really tough and there’s something on the line,” Morgan said after Ulster’s 0-23 to 2-11 victory, which translated into a four-point victory, with four points were awarded for goals under the new rules.

However, Morgan expects all seven rules to apply to the league next year.

“I don’t think it’s a question of the rules, I think they’re all upheld,” the 2021 All-Ireland winner said.

“The people responsible for this are all an intelligent bunch, they have obviously thought things through well and the rules are being implemented.”

The new rules in place did not stop Ulster playing the ball in the final two minutes of their win over Munster after their lead had shrunk to two points, prompting boos due to the low crowd in Croke Park.

“Tonight you saw that we kept the ball for 35 seconds and got booed. “We used to do this for 35 minutes,” Morgan smiled.

“Managers will find a way around them, that’s the next part, but something had to change and we had to push for it.”