I EXPECT that before long we will have the introduction of yet more new rules into our game.

When the powers that be sat down to have a look at what they thought to be the issues that needed to be addressed, they really should have spent more time and consulted with more people because they have made a real hash of things yet again.

We could speak about the amount of rules that were brought in or the amount of rules that simply didn’t work, but instead we will focus on the blatantly obvious ones that were simply ignored.

I watch a lot of Ladies football when it’s on TV but I am in no way an expert on it and I couldn’t tell you when they introduced the buzzer to sound the end of the game.

Now we have a lot of highly paid officials in Croke Park and we also have hundreds who sit on various committees, so you would think that one of those would have the spark to say “hey lads, that timing method works pretty well for the ladies do you think we should have a look at that?”

Apparently not. So yet again, last Saturday night we became embroiled in another timing row.

In the Dublin and Donegal game there were seven minutes of added time allocated however referee Maurice Deegan blew the final whistle 69 seconds after the allocated seven minutes of added time had been played.

No problem there, the only issue being is that there was no play for three minutes and 14 seconds of the seven minutes due to a melee and players receiving treatment, etc.

So therefore the argument being made, especially by the Donegal camp, is that there should have been more time added on which could have allowed them a chance to grab a share of the spoils.

In no way do I blame the referee in this situation as he has enough on his plate so this should be taken out of his hands. Instead we should help make things more efficient and transparent across the board.

If we had the clock counting down for everyone to see then no one could have any complaints and we could just focus on the actual game. Surly now these boys who seem to be itching to introduce new rules every year might at least look at this and maybe implement one new rule that actually serves a purpose.

Another major talking point was the incident that led to the melee when John Small and Brian Howard tangled with Michael Murphy. Let me begin by saying that I have no issue whatsoever with this as Dublin saw out the game and in fact if the shoe was on the other foot and it was our lads who did what they did then I would be saying fair play.

Dublin are extremely intelligent and that comes with years of operating at the top.

The game was held up for a number of minutes and it broke Donegal’s momentum.

Players, be it at elite county level or club level, will do whatever it takes to get their team over the line and until there is something in place that stops this kind of thing from happening then Dublin and every other team will do what they must.

Donegal will see this as more points left behind but they can be pleased with some aspects of their play. It leaves us with a mountain to climb now to remain in Division One but here in Donegal we are well used to mountains so I expect the squad to deliver over the next few games and cement that position in the top tier.

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