Cork footballer Paul Walsh on new rules: It speeds up the game, there are a lot more scores

Cork footballer Paul Walsh is a big fan of the new rules.

The 27-year-old was speaking to The Echo at the launch of the 2025 McCarthy Insurance Group Football Leagues at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh recently. 

While there had been debate around some of them including the goalkeeper coming up to create 12 v 11, that has now been sorted and overall the new rules have been positive. 

“So far, I like the rules to be honest,” the Kanturk player said.

“It definitely speeds up the game. There is definitely more attacking football and as you can see, there are a lot more scores in every game. At the minute, I would be for them anyway.

“I would be a big fan of the solo and go. It does speed up the whole thing. It gives the player with the ball an advantage to go forward without being tackled. The space up top is definitely a help. The faster you get the ball up to the full-forward line, the better, and leave them do what they do in front of goal.

“If you look at my own club, Kanturk, we have a big team. We have a few lads well over 6 ft, so when it comes to the long kickout, we might have a strength around the middle. 

"Then going back to the space up top, it suits us as well because we can kick the ball even though we mightn’t do it a whole lot, we can kick the ball forward. That’s another area where we can work to our advantage.“ 

On a separate note, Paul’s first cousin, Aidan Walsh, has transferred to Kerry outfit An Ghaeltacht, after a long period playing for his local club. Given he lives in An Ghaeltacht parish and has a young family, the commute was beginning to take its toll.

When asked about the transfer, Paul was in agreement that Aidan's departure is a blow for Kanturk.

“Absolutely, there’s no point in saying otherwise,” he says.

“Aidan had represented Kanturk at adult level since he was 16 years of age, he’s 35 now. He owes no one nothing. We wish him all the best with An Ghaeltacht. I would be in constant contact with him anyway, it’s not like we are going to fall out or anything like that.

“It was a difficult decision for Aidan. He has been living down there for a while. It took him this long to make a decision. That just shows how much Kanturk means to him. He’s Kanturk true and true. Big boots to fill, but it gives an opportunity to others to step up at the same time."

Kanturk have two points from the first two games in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 2 Football League while later in the year in the SAFC, they will face Éire Óg, Kilshannig and Newmarket in their group stage.