The first Gaelic football interprovincial clash between Connacht and Leinster proved to be a one-sided affair as players from opposing counties united to trial a whole host of new rules in Croke Park.
Lacklustre matches in recent seasons have forced the hand of the GAA who felt change was needed and so Jim Gavin and his taskforce came up with these new rules to try and make the game a more of a spectacle to watch.
The interpro series - which evokes memories of The Railway Cup - has adopted a wide range of rule alterations.
READ HERE: Breaking Down The Seven Major Rule Changes To Be Trialled In This Weekend's Railway Cup
Among the new rules trialled were four-point goals - which Player of the Match Aidan O'Shea availed of for a dominant Connacht side which ran out 4-21 to 1-11 winners at GAA HQ.
Aidan O'Shea opened the scoring with a FOUR-point goal for Connacht against Leinster 👀
A well-taken finish by the Mayo man in the GAA interpro at Croke Park 👇pic.twitter.com/MiBaMmeuXm— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) October 18, 2024
Elsewhere, players benefitted from 'two-pointer' scores between the uprights which prompted umpires to raise red flags - instead of the standard colours of white and green.
Players could also take a 'solo and go' after winning frees, while referees used vanishing spray as seen in the Premier League and a hockey-esque horn sounded at the end of the contest.
Aidan O'Shea warns GAA bosses after new rules trial
O'Shea - who scored 1-2 on the day - spoke to TG4 after the game where he warned the GAA not to get too ahead of themselves in their effort to improve Gaelic football.
I don't want to judge off one game and obviously it was very one-sided as well," O'Shea reflected.
"We have to be careful that we don't change too much.
"Obviously, we want to make sure people are entertained and are enjoying the game but that seemed to be very one-sided and the game ran away from Leinster very quickly."
#GAABeo
'It's nice to try something different but there's probably a few tweaks that need to be made'
Labhair an Laoch na hImeartha Aidan O'Shea linn tar éis an chluiche.
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 pic.twitter.com/ZH2qnsl458— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 18, 2024
The Mayo legend did embrace a couple of the changes however, highlighting the value of the 'solo-and-go' among the new rules he would like to see embraced.
'Yeah the tap-and-go and the three-up I think work but the scoring system - I don't think there is any real need to (change that).
"But look, there is a lot of work gone into this from the FRC (Football Review Committee) so we have got to try and embrace it as best we can over the next few days but there is probably a few tweaks that need to be made."
The action continues with the meeting of Munster and Ulster on Friday before the winners and losers from both games collide on Saturday.
