Lee Costello

Tyrone have beaten Derry in their National League opener, in a game that saw the best and worst of the new rules showcased.

Tyrone 2-13 1-9 Derry Brian Kennedy of Tyrone in action against Conor Doherty of Derry during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match at O'Neills Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone.

Tyrone fielded a young team, full of fresh faces and enthusiasm, to tackle the new landscape of Gaelic football that the new rules have created, but it was seasoned star Michael McKernan who made the most of the changes, scoring 1-02 from half back in the first half alone, and charging his side to victory against Derry.

It’s that time of year when everyone swaps the box of Celebrations for porridge, the bottles of wine for the protein shakes, and the pub for the gym.

As Gaelic football enters a new era with new rules that will make the game unrecognisable in some quarters, it may surprise some to learn that one of the biggest stars in the sport hasn’t even had a chance to try them out.

The new rules were introduced by the Football Rules Committee to try and make the game a much more entertaining spectacle to watch – and to do that, the forwards had to be more involved than they have been in recent years.

Armagh legend Oisin McConville believes that his nephew Rian O'Neill will be back with the county team "sooner rather than later".

Man United legend Paul Scholes fully backs Ruben Amirom's recent criticism of Red Devil's striker Marcus Rashford, and thinks he should go even further with his punishment.

Tyrone legend Peter Canavan has joined the Football Rules Committee, and will play a role in examining the new rules throughout the league campaign.

If you have played any sport at any level you will no doubt have come across the petulant pantomime villain that is the team ‘yapper’.