Waterford star gives verdict on introducing 'three-up' rule to ladies game

Irish Daily Mirror

09-07-2025

Waterford's Emma Murray says she would welcome the introduction of the 'three up' rule to ladies football.
The concept, which means that teams must keep three outfield players in one half of the field at all times, has been credited with revolutionising the men's game this year, along with a number of other rule changes introduced by the Jim Gavin-led Football Review Committee.
But none of those apply to ladies football, where teams can still get 15 players behind the ball, leading to stalemate scenarios.
'We see the positive impact that it's had in the men's game,' said Murray of the 'three-up' rule. 'It's after making it very exciting and got rid of that defensive style that we've seen over the last few years so yeah, if it was brought into ladies it would be positive as well and stop team getting everyone back behind the ball and makes for more exciting and attacking football.'
She added: 'When you're playing it you mightn't even realise that you might be going over and across the pitch trying to break down a defence for four or five minutes but if it makes the game more exciting for spectators and that, a three-up like the men's game would surely be a positive introduction.'
Murray picked up the PwC Player of the Month award for June as Waterford reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals, where they lost to Galway last weekend. She feels there needs to be more consistency and scope around how the physical stakes are policed.
'A big one over the last few seasons has been the contact,' she explained. 'You'd often see that charging rule, we're all well aware of it, is still a little bit of a grey area, what's allowed and what's not allowed.
'One day out it might be a free for you, the next day it might be a free to the other player so the physicality one is probably one that needs to be looked at.
'People are in the gym and all that, they're athletic people. Are they able to let it be a bit more physical?'