County panels to be increased to 30 players

County championship panels are set to be increased from 24 to 30 players as a result of the consultation meetings between the National Referees' Committee and intercounty representations from all four provinces.

Over the past fortnight, the Referees' Committee met separately with each province, concluding with Leinster on Wednesday night, and though the main purpose was to address the interpretation and implementation of rules by referees, the issue of panel numbers was also raised by numerous county managers.

Yesterday in Croke Park the committee briefed the media on the main topics of those meetings, and the chairman of the Games Administration Committee, Pauric Duffy, explained the reasoning behind the request for the increase.

Under current rules, only 24 county players can gain entry to the dressing-rooms for championship matches and get their names on the match programme.

"There was a passionate plea from a number of managers to increase that number to 30, especially from the likes of John O'Mahony and Tommy Lyons," said Duffy. "Most counties have panels of 28 or 30 players now, and managers were finding it more difficult and unfair to cut the names down to 24.

"This proposal will now be taken to the Central Council meeting on Saturday fortnight, where it will be presented by the players' committee chairman Jarlath Burns. Having heard what the managers said, there appears to be very strong feelings on the matter and I would be hopeful it would go through."

The increase would then take effect for the remainder of the championship, though it would not yet extend to league games. The proposal will also require further discussion in the number of All-Ireland medals presented, and whether that too will be increased to 30.

Duffy described the meetings in general as "very successful", and was particularly pleased with the number of county managers present at each provincial meeting (in Adare, Knock, Monaghan and Portlaoise), even if that meant he was ducking for cover at times.

Beyond the obvious debates over enforcement of rules for cautioning and dismissal, another of the main issues of contention was the blood substitution rule. It appears confusion still exists over its implementation, and Dan McCartan, chairman of the Referees' Committee, highlighted some of its refinements.

"From the start of the championship blood substitutes will now wear a special armband," he said. "And the fact that he is a blood sub will also be announced on the PA.

"The fourth official will keep a record of the changes, and though ultimately it is the management's responsibility to keep track, we are working on better communication with the fourth official, in that he would inform the management if the 20 players have been used."

The only exception to the rule in terms of numbers is if the goalkeeper suffers a blood injury after the 20 players have been used. In that case the replacement can come from outside the 20 players already used, provided, of course, he is used solely as a goalkeeper.

This season, however, the rule on jersey numbers was due to be enforced, and if blood substitutes came back on wearing a different number (sometimes higher than 24), then county boards would be liable for a €1,000 fine.

That, said Duffy, didn't sit too well with the managers.

"A lot of team managers thought the rule was ridiculous for a number of reasons, not least of the demand for a second jersey for every player. That too may yet be altered at the Central Council meeting, but either way the PA system would have to relay the identity of the player that has come back on."

This summer's championship also sees changes in the positioning of team mentors, though in some instances that enforcement may be delayed. While the manager still has the right to roam the sideline (though not loiter behind the goal), substitutes and selectors will now sit in the stand.

"The GAC accepts that certain grounds are not yet ready to implement this rule," said Duffy. "The subs and selectors need some privacy and protection from the crowd and in grounds where that is not yet possible they will be allowed in the dug-outs as in the past."

Finally, players can also expect a quick reminder this year that they are not allowed to move the ball forward after being awarded a free, and managers too can expect disciplinary action if they attack the honesty and integrity of the referees in post-match interviews.