Legends the Gooch and Doyle on revolutionary rule making football ‘world’s most attractive sport’
Kerry legend Colm ‘the Gooch’ Cooper claims the new GAA football rules have transformed the game, while Kildare legend Johnny Doyle says football is becoming one of the most attractive sports in the world because of those changes.
Several new rules were brought into the game last year, with some tweaking done in the months that followed, but the two-point rule for scores from outside the 40-metre arc has had the largest impact.
While the full impact is still being judged, early observations suggest it has led to a shift in tactics and an increase in scoring, though it has drawn some criticism with some describing the game as ‘outdoor basketball’.
David Clifford’s 2025 scoring record is insane, but it can’t go unnoticed how unbelievable Sean O’Shea has been from the arc this year.
26 points from 2-pointers in 2025 even after he missed 5 games in the league campaign for #Kerry is nuts!
Research suggests there are 11.8 two-point arc attempts per game, with a 51 per cent success rate, and Cooper says the impact has been hugely positive, in particular in the closing stages of games.
“It’s not an easy kick!” he told SportsJOE. “It’s made a huge difference to their game – before we’d have looked at games with six, seven or eight points in it and it’s all over. But all of a sudden, three two-pointers and you’re back in the game very quickly.
“It’s one of the rules that have transformed the game and made it very interesting.”
The 2 point arc should be a different colour! Don't @ me!
— Global Gaelic Games (@Global_GAA) June 28, 2025
Doyle agreed with Cooper, and says although the GAA have been criticised heavily in recent years, the rule change is increasing the spectacle of the game and sees it becoming one of the most entertaining in the world.
“The new rules are a revelation. There were a few that needed tweaking along the way but certainly it speeds up the game. There’s more room, particularly in the forward line. You’ve seen the scores, at one stage 1-15 was a huge score, it probably won’t win many matches now.
The two-point arc has quickly become one of the most talked-about changes in Gaelic Football.What was once a low-percentage option is now a vital part of teams’ attacking play. These are the players who have mastered the art of raising the orange flag.
Thread👇… pic.twitter.com/Q4g2ZnStES
— Score Beo (@Score_Beo) July 4, 2025
“It’s certainly more entertaining. Now I know none of the managers will be going out telling their teams to entertain at the weekend, they just want to win at all costs, but for the supporter.
“I know the football side of the GAA got an awful hammering for the last few years, maybe rightly so at times, but now we’re back. I heard Jim Gavin talking about how one of their briefs was to make Gaelic football one of the most attractive games in the world, and they’re heading in that direction, so it’s brilliant.”
Former Kerry footballer Colm Cooper and former Kildare footballer Johnny Doyle spoke with us for AIB ahead of GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final between Tyrone and Kerry this Saturday, July 12th at 5:00pm.
Unprecedented surprises and high-octane action have defined a historic season which has proven to be #TheToughest to call, with the race for silverware still wide open.
AIB have also added an extra layer of excitement as the season nears an end with the return of the Volunteer VIP competition for the third time. The competition launched on Monday, July 7th and is open until Sunday, July 20th.
The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10
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