Dublin star Diarmuid Connolly says the black card has been "putting bad publicity" on Gaelic football since it's introduction.

Connolly and his St Vincent's team mates are currently gearing up for a Leinster club SFC final showdown against Offaly's Rhode on Sunday and the 29-year-old believes that the recent alterations to the rules of the game are unnecessary.

"It's silly bringing in these rules," Connolly told the Irish Independent. "There is nearly one every two years, I don't think it's benefitting the game. It's putting bad publicity on the game.

"The black card has been over-publicised so much. Referees are coming under scrutiny for it. Players are coming under scrutiny for it and there was no need for it.

"Just because Sean Cavanagh pulled a guy down and some clown in an RTÉ studio decides to throw the toys out of the pram and make it more than it was. . ."

Speaking on next year's introduction of the 'mark' rule, the four-time All-Ireland winner has branded it "a dead duck".

"I don't think it's going to be a major factor. How many clean catches have you seen outside the '45 in the last five years. Are they trying to bring that back? Will it work? I'm not sure," he added.

"Not too many goalkeepers in the modern game just bomb the ball out to the middle and look for someone to catch it. It might be factor, but I don't think it's going to be a major one. It's a dead duck really, they tried it before and it didn't work."

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