Derry and Tyrone call for clock/hooter and advantage rule to be culled

A number of Ulster counties are expected to contest some of the Football Review Committee (FRC) rules being made permanent at October’s Special Congress.

As FRC chairman Jim Gavin at a motions briefing last night revealed they will not propose a four-point goal or a “back-court” rule preventing passes going behind the halfway line once the attacking teams have brought the ball across it, some of the feedback from Derry and Tyrone was rejected by the committee.

Both counties oppose the clock/hooter and advanced mark but the FRC are sticking with both. Tyrone said it had not made the game more exciting as intended and highlighted the example of David Clifford’s two-pointer before half-time in the All-Ireland SFC final when the game was reduced to “walking pace”. Tyrone added: “Kicking the ball into the stand at the end of a game after running the clock down is not part of our game.”

The FRC revealed the length of games had increased to an average of almost 79 minutes as a result of the clock/hooter and it was promoting transparency in time-keeping. Both Derry and Tyrone pointed out there was a lack of consistency as it was not in operation at club level.

Longford also looked for an amendment. The Gavin-led group have informed counties they will be recommending the hooter be operative as they originally intended and each half will conclude when it sounds unless the ball is in flight or a free/45/sideline ball is being taken.

Tyrone said the advanced mark “is not and has not been a feature of our games and should be deleted”. Although only 25 were taken in 215 matches, the FRC insisted the rule promotes long-range kick-passing, high-fielding and one-on-one contests.

Claiming football was “in danger of turning… into a kick-out contest”, Derry called for the arc to be removed for restarts. They added the ban of the pass back to the goalkeeper was enough to ensure kick-outs were varied.

The FRC countered that there is almost 11% more kick-outs and the distance of such have increased – 48% beyond the 65-metre line, 30% between the 45m and 65m lines and less than 22% before the 45m line. Contested kick-outs have risen from 31% to 63%.

Derry argued for the removal of the two-point score as it was contributing to “bizarre scorelines, particularly during the (National) league” and was “hugely affected by weather conditions”.

Jim Gavin watches on with members of the committee during an FRC trial game. File picture: Dan Clohessy/Inpho

The FRC highlighted the orange flag score had done what the committee has envisaged it would – boosting long-range shooting and create space inside for goal-scoring chances.

The average number of goal attempts per game jumped from 4.2 last year to 6.1 in 2025 with slightly more goals scored (2.0 to 2.1). There was seven more shots per match taken this season compared to the previous one.

Derry also proposed the return of the traditional two-v-two throw-in. However, Gavin White’s point in the opening seconds of this year’s All-Ireland SFC final was cited by the FRC as an example of how the one-on-one restarts are lending to greater attacking chances.

Tyrone made the case for more substitutes and, along with Longford, curbing the dissent punishment to a 13m free and thus preventing a team from taking the ball outside the arc for a two-point attempt. However, the FRC did not support either.

The FRC appeared to concur with Derry and Tyrone’s claims that the advantage rule is too long and have recommended “guidance for match officials is developed on how to best apply the advantage rule”.

The FRC also agreed with Tyrone’s call for deflected two-point attempts to be counted as two as opposed to one as was the case this season. In the instance of a goalkeeper touching the ball over the bar, there is an FRC motion forthcoming calling for that to be deemed a two-pointer.

In Friday's briefing, Gavin told counties of the FRC's proposal to start a half with a 13m free or two-point free attempt if the opposing team’s management officials have been abusive to a match official. The committee want that recommended rule to apply to all verbal and physical abuse of match officials during a game.

Kick-outs will also have to clear the 20m line if the FRC’s proposal is supported. Currently, goalkeepers are able to recommence games by kicking the ball 13m to either side where there is no arc.

A jersey pull is also set to be included in the prescribed list of fouls that deliberately prevent a goalscoring opportunity. The punishment for such is a black card and a penalty kick.

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