GAA: Daly upbeat about new rules departure.

The GAA's Head of Games, Pat Daly, is convinced the new disciplinary rules can help make Gaelic Games more exciting and entertaining.
Daly attended a number of ties in the pre-season competitions at the weekend, and was encouraged by what he witnessed.
After watching Queen's defeat Cavan by 3-13 to 0-12 at Breffni Park, Daly was upbeat about the experimental departure.
He was particularly enthused by the high scorelines which appear to have resulted from a reluctance on the part of the players to commit themselves to cynical, reckless or disruptive fouling.
'We were happy, basically there was more playing time, less frees, less cynicism and bigger scoring,' he said.
'I don't think anybody would have anticipated that kind of a scoreline from a McKenna Cup game.
'It will take the referees a bit of time to adjust, and it will take the players a bit of time to adjust to it.
'But the message will get through. The message here is on playing the ball, not on playing the man.'
Four players were sent off on yellow cards at the Cavan town venue.
The home side's Eddie Reilly lasted just 13 minutes, and he was followed to the dug-out by team-mates David Gibney and John McCutcheon, with QUB's Paul Courtney also making an early departure following a booking. All four players were replaced by substitutes.
'You don't want to see anybody sent off. The guys that went, the referee (Fermanagh's Martin Higgins) said he was pretty sure that they were neck-high tackles, they were deliberate fouls and the guys deserved to go, based on the rules of the day,' said Daly.
'It will take the perennial fouler a bit of time for it to sink in that "if I play my usual game here I won't be around playing it".'
But the Croke Park chief insisted that players, managers and referees will be given some leeway in the weeks ahead as they grow accustomed to the new rules, which will also apply to the National Leagues.
'I think everybody needs a bit of time, everybody needs a bit adjustment, but it was a good open game. It maybe died a bit after Queen's got their third goal, but I don't think they would have got the third goal under the old rules.
'Basically what we would be saying to referees, if the player is making a reasonable attempt to play the ball and conceded a free, just ignore that.
He added: 'It's not a black mark down against the player, and once referees get to understand that, that the guy is making a reasonable effort to play the ball and concedes a free, it doesn't come against him.
'It's only when he isn't making any effort to play the ball that he is penalised, and I think if all the referees are working on that wavelength when we get to the start of the National League, then that would be very good.'
And he cautioned fans that enjoy the less savoury aspects of the game that they are going to be disappointed in the weeks and months ahead.
'I think supporters come and expect to see a bit of digging, if I can put it that way. But if you come and expect to see a bit of digging, you'll be disappointed.
'You can't be ambivalent about the thing. You either play football, or you don't play football.'

Source RTE

New Experimental GAA Rules Explained

The GAA recently introduced strict new regulations which they hope will confront the growing cynicism and persistent fouling that has become a huge source of frustration and criticism amongst Gaelic Games purists.
And to help you understand the new experimental rules and keep you out of the referees' glare from January, we have attached the football and hurling directives which have been sent out to all officials.
The main difference between the new regulations and the old system is that players shown a yellow card will now leave the field of play and be replaced by a substitute. This initiative should hand the responsibility of discipline directly back to the players as a yellow card offence will see them sit out the rest of the game.

Task force chairman Liam O'Neill said: 'We constantly hear about teams who play to the rules or play to the edge in whatever way. Well, we want to make that edge a lot sharper now and anyone who plays to it will get cut.
'We want to make a bargain to our younger players that you grow up in a game where persistent fouling won't bother you one bit, where you solo by a person without having your head taken off, where you can take the field without fear of being pulled down, where you can part with a ball without being pasted.
'The bargain we are making with young players is, play your game skilfully and we will protect you.'
The experimental rules are to be used in the upcoming subsidiary provincial competitions and Allianz GAA Hurling and Football National Leagues.

Video on New Rules here

Chris Atkinson jumps to newly formed Citroen Junior Team, for Rally Ireland 2009

Image: ©willyweyens-rallyworld

Citroen Introduces The Citroen Junior Team
Citroën Sport is delighted to announce the launch of the Citroën Junior Team which will run as a 'Manufacturers 2' team in the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship. The programme will be handled by Citroën Sport Technologies and will feature several talented young drivers over the year. The full list of names, and the individual events they will each contest, have yet to be finalised, however.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be able to confirm the Citroën Junior Team as an M2 entry in the 2009 World Rally Championship," says Citroën Sport Director Olivier Quesnel. "As required by the regulations, the Citroën Junior Team will contest at least eight events in order to qualify for Manufacturers' points. Conrad Rautenbach, Evgeny Novikov and Sébastien Ogier will form the mainstay of the line-up, while Chris Atkinson is due to take part in the first round of the new year, the Rally Ireland, in a Citroën C4 WRC."
"It is no coincidence that we have chosen to employ the word 'Junior' in the team's official name," points out Citroën Sport Technologies Manager Benoît Nogier. "It is an M2 team which will predominantly run drivers who are currently learning the sport, and their average age will be 22. Our aims are to develop the commercial side which we began in 2008 and also enable our crews to benefit from our expertise. The programme will allow them to gain valuable extra experience which will put them in good stead for the next step of their career."
The set-up of the operation will be the same as that which ran Urmo Aava and Conrad Rautenbach in 2008 and will continue to feature the Citroën C4 WRC. On events, Citroën Sport Technologies will be based close to Citroën Sport's facilities and will once again be able to benefit from the latter's know-how. The Citroën Junior Team brings a further boost to the brand's commitment to the WRC and will be able to count on the expertise of the World Championship-winning squad throughout the year.
"Following the encouraging results he obtained in 2008, Conrad Rautenbach will again contest every round of the 2009 championship," specifies Benoît Nogier. "He will be joined on at least eight of those 12 rounds by the very young Russian driver Evgeny Novikov who will be competing in a WRC car for the first time and who has also shown that he has plenty of potential. The programme of the Junior World Champion Sébastien Ogier, who made a name for himself on the recent Wales Rally GB, currently includes six events. Last but not least, we will be joined in Ireland by Australia's Chris Atkinson who is already a familiar face in the sport. It is our belief that our association with Chris will not stop there."
The crews who have been confirmed to drive for the Citroën Junior Team are all very aware of the opportunity they have been given. They go into 2009 with great enthusiasm and extremely determined, yet perfectly conscious of the challenge that awaits them.


The Citroën Junior Team drivers
Conrad Rautenbach: born November 12, 1984, in Zimbabwe.Rally debut: 2001 (Group N Toyota Corolla)WRC debut: 2004, Monte Carlo (Ford Puma, retired)WRC starts: 43.Starts in a WRC car: 16.Best result: 4th (Argentina, 2008, driving a Citroën C4 WRC).
Sébastien Ogier: born December 17, 1983, in Gap (France).Rally debut: 2006 (Peugeot's Volant 206 single-make series). Member of the Rallye Jeunes FFSAteam.WRC debut: 2008, Mexico (Citroën C2 Super 1600, 8th overall, 1st J-WRC).WRC starts: 8.Starts in a WRC car: 1 (Wales, 2008, driving a C4 WRC, 26th overall).2008 Junior World Champion driving a Citroën C2 Super 1600.Best result: 8th (Mexico, 2008, driving a Citroën C2 Super 1600).
Evgeny Novikov: born September 19, 1990, in Moscow (Russia).Rally debut: 2005 (as a co-driver sitting alongside his father).Debut as a driver: 2006.WRC debut: 2007, Wales Rally GB (Mitsubishi Lancer, retired).WRC starts: 7.Starts in a WRC car: 0.2006 Russian Champion. At the age of 16, he led the opening leg of the 2007 Rally Russia beforeretiring with engine failure.13th, 2008 Production World Rally Championship.Best result: 11th (Japan, 2008, driving a Mitsubishi).
Chris Atkinson: born November 18, 1979, in Bega (Australia).Rally debut: 2000 (Toyota Corolla).WRC debut: 2004, New Zealand (Subaru Impreza, retired).WRC starts: 66 (all in a Subaru Impreza).Starts in a WRC car: 62.Best result: 2nd (Mexico and Argentina, 2008, driving a Subaru Impreza).



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Kavanagh set to captain Donegal

New Donegal manager John Joe Doherty has confirmed that Rory Kavanagh will captain the team when they get their Dr McKenna Cup campaign underway in January.
The 26-year-old from St Eunan's of Letterkenny will take the mantle from Kevin Cassidy, who is unavailable for the McKenna Cup campaign where Donegal will play University of Ulster Jordanstown, Fermanagh and Derry.
One man who might have challenged Kavanagh for the skipper's role was 2006 All-Star Karl Lacey.
However, the Four Masters clubman is currently taking a sabbatical in Australia and New Zealand, but has given his word to Doherty that he will return before the Ulster championship meeting with Antrim in June.
'I spoke to Karl on two occasions before he left. He was hoping to be back by May. We hope he keeps that schedule and we would be very happy if he came back sooner,' Doherty said.
Doherty has also named his panel for the McKenna Cup with Ciaran Bonner, Stephen McDermott and Brendan Boyle recalled to the fray, while Ross Wherity of St Eunan's is the new face on the 30-man panel.
Injury prevents Colm McFadden, Barry Dunnion, Michael Murphy and Michael Hegarty from joining the panel, although Doherty is hopeful the quartet will be available for Donegal's first NFL fixture of 2009 away to Kerry.

Source: RTE sports