BRIAN FLANAGAN has added his voice to calls for an increase in the number of substitutions that can be made under Gaelic football’s new rules.
Following his side’s win over Dublin last weekend, Donegal manager Jim McGuinness proposed that teams be permitted to introduce six subs instead of five to cope with the increased demands placed on players by the Football Review Committee’s enhancements.
Wins over Fermanagh and Sligo have seen Flanagan make an encouraging start to his reign since succeeding Glenn Ryan as Kildare gaffer.
He told the Kildare Nationalist: “The new rules, the new game, the amount of high-speed running that’s involved in it.
“You’re going to need a minimum of five and obviously there’s a bit of debate now around an extra sub or two and I’d be in favour of that.
“I think it’s needed and five is just about cutting it for us at the minute.”
Elsewhere, Mayo icon Lee Keegan admits that Galway’s comfortable victory in Castlebar on Sunday is further evidence that the balance of power has shifted in Connacht.
Mayo legend Keegan lamented the ‘ponderous, laboured’ performance produced by his county in their 0-26 to 0-16 defeat.
Having also lost their National League opener against Dublin, Kevin McStay’s side are languishing at the foot of the Division 1 table alongside Derry.
Key players such as Aidan O’Shea, Tommy Conroy, Paddy Durcan and Jordan Flynn have yet to feature for Mayo in 2025.
But Keegan told SunSport: “It’s not as straightforward as saying they’ll come back in and steer the ship right away.
“It’ll take them a little time to integrate into the new rules, the set-up of the team and match fitness is a big thing as well.
“I felt Mayo would probably struggle in Division 1 this year. I think they’re a little bit off the pace in terms of the rules.
“And even though Kevin said he thought they were in a good place in terms of conditioning, it didn’t look that way to me on Sunday.
“There’s a lot to work on. I wouldn’t be pushing panic buttons in the first week of February but they’re a bit off where the other teams are at the moment.”
