“F*** me, where are we going?” – Declan Bonner hits out at GAA’s new rules

Declan Bonner launched a sideswipe at the GAA’s new experimental rules after his side’s McKenna Cup rout of Queen’s.

By Chris McNulty in Ballybofey

Donegal began their McKenna Cup defence with a resounding 0-21 to 0-11 win over the Students, but the Donegal boss was left to bemoan the trial rules, which are in place for the pre-season competitions.

It was evident that players were kick-passing at any available opportunity in a bid to get around the rule prohibiting more than three consecutive hand passes.

Donegal’s Michael Langan became the first player from the county to be sin-binned, as he was banished in the 59th minute, only to return and kick the game’s final point.

“It’s such a waste of time,” Bonner said of the rules.

“It’s crazy. I don’t know how ten men can sit around a table and decide the three hand passes rule. There were no goals in the game and I think that’s one of the reasons.

“Normally we’d have men coming off the shoulder to finish it off. Many a time, we’d have Ryan McHugh or someone coming off the shoulder and putting the ball to the back of the net.

“The new rule makes it very difficult. The boys are very wary and this is doing nothing for the game.

“There was confusion with the mark, too. The first ball that went in, some fella caught the ball around our square, the next thing the referee blew the whistle and, f*** me, where are we going?

“They can’t have much to do, coming up with this.”