It's a real sin..time wasting and keep ball are the result of black cards

WE’RE now into the tenth season since the black card was introduced to Gaelic football and I wouldn’t be as quick to hail its ‘success’ as others might.

The change to the rule since 2020, whereby a player is sin-binned for 10 minutes instead of being replaced as before, has arguably been a hindrance to the game as a spectacle.

A game that can be fast flowing, entertaining and end-to-end can suddenly change dramatically when a team opts to kill the clock on the back of getting a black card.

Last Saturday night’s game in Castlebar started with a real bang and intensity. Then, in the 15th minute, Galway’s Eoghan Kelly receives a black card and the dynamics of the game change.

Galway reverted to maintaining possession, the majority of which is in their own half. Interestingly, they only threatened the Mayo goal once in the 10-minute period.