Rule changes proposed by Joe Brolly to beat ultra-defensive tactics in Gaelic football will be put to the test in an exhibition match on July 18.

In an article headlined: "One simple rule can rescue Gaelic football from 'The Clonoe Conundrum" which was published in the Sunday Independent earlier this year, the Derry man maintained that if goalkeepers were forced to kick the ball beyond the '45', the knock-on effect would be that blanket defences would no longer be effective.

"The goalkeeper must kick the ball out beyond the 45-metre line. For the kick-out, only the four midfielders can be in the zone between the 45s," he wrote at the time.

"The rest of the players must line up as per the throw-in, with six-versus-six inside each 45. They do not have to be in their starting positions, so long as there are six from each team inside each 45. From the kick-out, the ball is not in play until it is touched by one of the midfielders. Until then, the rest must stay inside their 45. I do not advocate for any other playing rule change.

"There are around 35-55 kick-outs per game. That means that in future, a coach would have to develop his defensive and attacking strategies from the starting point of a midfielder in possession in the middle of the pitch on 35-55 occasions per game.

"The rule will provide space and time for long-kicking from the midfield area into the forwards, or for great attacking half-back lines to surge upfield without hitting a 13-man wall.

"It will also give the art of midfield high-catching its proper place, avoiding the artificial solution of a mark. Critically, forming a blanket defence will be impossible from the kick-outs."

Brolly's rules will now be trialled on the eve of the Ulster SFC final between Donegal and Monaghan at the Truagh Gaels club. Seamus McEnaney will manage a 'Rest of Ireland' team which is set to feature Eamonn O'Hara, Matty Forde, Shane Curran and Padraic Joyce, while Ryan McMenamin, Aaron Kernan and Ronan Clarke are expected to line out for the James McCartan / Adrian McGuckin-managed Ulster selection.

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