Joe Brolly Thinks New GAA Rule Is Wreaking Havoc In Club Games

While the new rules introduced into Gaelic football would prove to be a massive success in the inter-county game, it was always going to be interesting to see how the sport fared once the GAA's club championships got underway.

Developing rules to improve the game at the highest level is one thing, although it is a different matter when it comes to the lower standard.

Some of them will be welcome additions. The requirement to keep three players up should allow pure scorers to thrive, while the harsher punishments for dissent will also make a big difference in the club game.

However, some feel that one particular rule is already causing problems for many GAA clubs.

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Joe Brolly Thinks New GAA Rule Is Wreaking Havoc In Club Games

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The two-point arc has been a huge change to Gaelic football in 2025, encouraging GAA players to take on the type of long range scores that had become an increasingly rare part of the game in recent seasons.

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While it was well utilised at inter-county level, the nature of the club game has resulted in some teams having a massive advantage over some of their rivals. Not every club has a player with that long-range shooting in their arsenal.

For example, Trillick would secure a victory over Dungannon on Friday on the back of nine two-pointers from former Tyrone forward Paul Donaghy.

Writing in the Irish Independent, Joe Brolly gave this and other examples as reasoning for why the two-pointer has not worked in the club game. He also suggested a tweak to the law that the GAA should consider moving forward.

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Two-pointers are skewing the fairness of the contest... If a team is fortunate enough to have a two-point specialist, they now have an enormous advantage... Teams at all levels that have such a kicker will have a huge advantage. An advantage that they do not have to earn in the traditional way — by playing better football than the opposition. A two-point specialist, regardless of his general ability, is now absolutely worth it. It no longer matters if you are being outplayed... I would therefore keep the two-pointer from play but move it back five metres creating a 45-metre arc.

However, two-point frees are unjustifiable.

Two-point frees have been a contentious issue throughout 2025, with many believing that the additional point should not be awarded for scores from a dead ball.

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As for their impact in the club game, the lower level of talent on display does mean that any club possessing consistent long-range shooters could end up having a massive advantage over many of their rivals.

It remains to be seen if this is an issue that the GAA will take into consideration moving forward.

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