Donegal football boss Jim McGuinness reckons that the new rule changes won’t be that difficult to police.

The 2025 Allianz Football League gets underway tomorrow (Saturday) when the new rules will be showcased to fans for the first time in competitive inter-county games.

Donegal visit Killarney for an opening round clash with Kerry on Sunday (1.45pm) and, speaking to BBC Sport NI ahead of the weekend, McGuinness has been looking at the positive effect the new changes could have on the sport.

“I think a lot of it is going to work to be honest with you. And I don't think it's going to be that difficult to police either. Probably the lads coming back from the other half [will be the most difficult],” said the 2012 All-Ireland winning manager.

"We've had a referee on the sideline trying to police that for us as they were dropping back in to help the man in the middle. But apart from that, they haven't been too difficult. One of the major issues that [got us here] in the first place was possession football.

"And I think you might have a situation where that can end up happening in the attack half and slowing play. But we'll have to wait and see. Will goalkeepers be as brave in reality as they are maybe in the off-season or the challenge games?

"I think the role of the keeper did become very pivotal. But I think in terms of kick out strategy, it became all short ones. And I think now you're going to see a different type of role required for the goalkeeper in terms of keeping the ball away from the opposition but also having a situation where there's length on the kick.

"And I think that's going to make it more exciting probably. The ball is going to be in contest a lot more and you know it's going to mean that people have to go back to the drawing board in many respects in terms of trying to work out how they can keep the ball but go long.

"We're probably going back to maybe two decades ago now because that’s what teams were thinking about back then."

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