Leinster to face Connacht as Munster take on Ulster to trial Gaelic football rule changes

Eva Osborne

The GAA has confirmed arrangements for matches between the provinces, which will showcase the proposed new rule changes for Gaelic football.

Leinster will play Connacht on October 18th at Croke Park in the first semi-final at 6pm, with Munster and Ulster facing off at 8pm.

The following day will see two more games take place as the two defeated provinces meet at 5:30pm and the winning teams compete against each other at 7:30pm.

In September, the Football Review Committee produced an update to its proposed rule enhancements to the game, which include a 1-v-1 throw-in to start a game, instead of two players from each team, and the introduction of a new 40-metre scoring arc around both sets of goalposts to facilitate a new scoring system.

Tickets for the games trialling the proposed rules are on sale from usual outlets priced at €15 for adults and €5 for children and provide entry to all four games over the two days.

Managers

Connacht will be coached by Pádraic Joyce and Dessie Dolan will look after the Leinster team. John Cleary will manage the Munster selection and Kieran Donnelly will take charge of the Ulster team.

All four games will be televised with the two games on the Friday covered by TG4 and the two Saturday fixtures broadcast by RTÉ.

Long term GAA partners Allianz have been confirmed as series sponsors.

Speaking about the announcement of the series, Allianz chief customer officer Geoff Sparling said: “At Allianz we are delighted to be supporting the GAA as it showcases the proposed new rule changes for Gaelic football as devised by the Football Review Committee.

“From grassroots to inter-county, through our 30-plus years of partnership with the GAA alongside Cumann na mBunscol, and most recently the Camogie Association, Gaelic games are part of our DNA in Allianz.

“For that reason, we are so proud to be supporting the GAA as title sponsor of the two-day series and look forward to the excitement to come as the four Provinces go head-to-head across the two days”.