The All-Ireland champions of 2024 got the better of the All-Ireland champions of 2023 as Armagh defeated Dublin 1-20 to 1-12 in the Athletic Grounds.
Kieran McGeeney’s side was also given a timely boost this week, and Rian O’Neill was set to return to the squad.
However, once again, the talk was about the goalkeeper, with Ethan Rafferty playing the roaming role to a tee as he made a sublime pass to Barry McCambridge to get the Ulster side's only goal in the game.
Ethan Rafferty or Andrea Pirlo?pic.twitter.com/j7S7KY1xMh
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Speaking to RTÉ after the game, Rafferty questioned the rules being implemented around the net minders by Jim Gavin and his football rules committee.
“I didn’t see a whole pile wrong with it last year, to be honest,” Rafferty said.
“The previous year, some teams used it to slow down the game, and others used it to their advantage.
I say that the teams that used it that way, like tomorrow morning, I could be out of a job, so it's that uncertainty. There are rule changes in the 20 seconds; it was harsh on them. In the second half, I thought it was harsh on myself, but it’s the uncertainty.”
FT: Armagh 1-20 Dublin 1-12
Ethan Rafferty gets an opportunity to speak with FRC member Peter Canavan about his concerns for goalkeepers. 'I could be out of a job tomorrow' he says.
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Live Updates here 👇 https://t.co/ebTIkbepCn pic.twitter.com/wehIa1u6if— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) March 1, 2025
Rafferty, who only is back this year after sustaining a serious leg break and missing last year's championship, doesn’t like the uncertainty about whether or not certain rules will be enforced to prevent the goalkeeper from even leaving the box.
"You're going into a game next week, and you have no clue what is coming around the corner, which will be evident tomorrow morning,” Rafferty said.
“We have to play it with whatever cards we have been dealt with, and I think we have been doing it well at the moment, as most teams are; I think last year, I didn’t see a whole pile wrong with the goalkeeping one.
I suppose everyone thinks we're trying to play adventurous football to transition it quicker. It's everybody’s opinion, and a lot is coming down the train track for players and referees to try and manage it. I think it’s a lot at one time.”
Rafferty and co. will have to wait until Monday night to see what new rules will be changed or retained, as they are set to meet again to discuss them.
