When the Mayo LGFA team takes to the pitch in Breffni Park on Sunday against Cavan, they do so with the knowledge that it will be a historic occasion.

It will be the first competitive match for Mayo under the new rules which have now been adopted for the women's code of Gaelic football. 

Among the changes are the 40m two-point arc, the 3v3 rule and the tap-and-go, which many supporters might be familiar with since the adoption of those rules in men's Gaelic football last year.

There are 12 rule changes in total being trialed in LGFA matches this year. You can find an explainer here.

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WAIT AND SEE

New Mayo LGFA senior manager Diane O'Hora says she is taking a very much 'wait and see' approach to the new rules.

"It's a baptism of fire for everyone with the new rules coming in. The members of my management team have been involved in men's football in the last year. So there is a huge awareness and knowledge of the new rules. But obviously for the players it's a baptism of fire."

O'Hora mentions, the definition of a tackle and how physical it's going to become is probably something players and officials have to come to terms with.

"The perception of one ref to another could throw a spanner in the works for us," she points out.

The new rules aside, O'Hora can't wait for the National Football League to get started: "It feels like such a long time from when we come from and where we are now", she explains: "We're all just anxious to get into the routine of playing league matches week in week out and seeing and identifying where we can improve from each performance."

Mayo start their campaign on Sunday against Cavan in Breffni Park at 2pm. 

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