'Is it something to look at for a change?' Kildare captain reflects on new LGFA rules and further changes

The new LGFA rules have made it to the end of their first competition with the Lidl National Football League finals coming this weekend. Despite relegation from Division 1, Kildare have responded reasonably well to the new rules and the increased pace of the ladies football with it.

Lilies captain Laoise Lenehan said her side have improved immensely since their first game under the new rules against league finalists Cork in January.

She explained, “They (the rules) are really good, the first game was hard fitness wise, in terms of solo and go and stuff, and in fairness to the refs, they have all been trying to learn as well with us, but there obviously is going to be a difference depending on refs as you go on, which look, it is bound to happen.

“We were breaching at the start, we got a few frees against us, but towards the end, we weren't, so we are learning, but I think we have really improved on that, and even in training, we would be very harsh on each other, if you see something in a training match, you are calling it against your own teammates.”

With the National League in the rear-view, the Kill centre-back is hoping summer football will further enhance ladies football and Kildare’s output.

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Lenehan added, “It would be great to see a few of the girls in the summer months be able to get a few two pointers maybe, it is something they will definitely be working on, because that can, as you know, can be the changing of a match, and there are girls on the team that are able to. 

“Maybe just with a bit more practice, a bit of a wind, summer football hopefully, we will be seeing stuff like that, but definitely an improvement, and I think the spectators are enjoying watching the matches more as well now. The pace of the game will probably pick up more, the ground is firmer as well, hopefully we can keep up.”

Alongside the adjustments that were made, many of which mirrored the men's game, the LGFA overhauled their tackling laws with new provisions concerning the tackle, preventing a collision, persistent fouling and controlled contact.

Lenehan added, “It still is a learning thing as well. I got a yellow card against Kerry, so I am still learning, but it just depends, and being a bit more clever with it. The girls are definitely enjoying the physicality, and even in training we are bringing that as well, but even when we stepped up from Intermediate to Senior, the physicality change was huge, even with the older girls, so there is a step up again. That goes down to your gym work, and I think we are improving in that sense, but I am enjoying it anyway.”

A key difference that remains between LGFA and GAA rules is the yellow card; with the ladies game carrying the far more severe punishment of 10 minutes on the sideline for getting booked.

“It is hard for ladies football, because you get a yellow card, like you make one kind of mistimed tackle or something like that, and the punishment is so severe compared to a lads game,” Lenehan said. “You can come out and get a yellow card and you stay on the field, but in ladies football you have to be absolutely so sure, because a yellow card could change the whole course of the game. 

She concluded, “Even though the timing of my yellow card wasn’t detrimental, it was just before half time, but even for the other girls, that is asking a lot of them to defend with 14 players on the pitch for 10 minutes, that takes it out of them, and it is hard then coming back on to the game after 10 minutes, because you are conscious of what you are doing, and you are conscious of your tackling as well, so it is really tricky in that sense. It can change a game, we lost by one point and I was in the bin for 10 minutes, so it is not easy reflecting in that sense, is it something to look at for a change? I don't know, it is interesting.”