Donegal manager Jim McGuinness says the FRC must consider allowing teams make an extra substitute to help deal with the new rules.
The general consensus is that the ‘rule enhancements’ are leading to a more taxing game for footballers, borne out by the fact that Dublin suffered three hamstring injuries during their clash in Ballybofey on Saturday night.
Donegal won out by 0-20 to 0-16, giving them an ideal start to their National football league campaign, though Dublin’s cause wasn’t helped by soft tissue injuries suffered by Colm Basquel, Davy Byrne and James Madden.
This was Basquel’s third game in eight days having played a full part for Dublin last Saturday against Mayo before lining out for a full hour on Tuesday night with the TUD Sigerson Cup team in their quarter final win over UL.

Colm Basquel of Dublin in action against Finnbarr Roarty of Donegal during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Donegal and Dublin at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
He hit three points from play in three quarters of an hour but then pulled up and was forced off.
Donegal also didn’t emerge from the victory without any injuries, with Peadar Mogan reduced to hobbling around in the closing stages of the game. He was forced to stay on because Donegal had already used their allotted five subs by the 63rd minute, with Dublin in the same boat.
McGuinness says team should be allowed to make extra subs.
“I actually feel for Dublin there tonight,” he said. “They lost three players to hamstrings.
"Even ourselves, Peadar Mogan is one of our fittest players but he was really struggling in the last 15 minutes.
“These lads are putting their lives on hold, the sacrifices are huge and if the demands are just too much you need a release valve.
“Taking all that into account, I think there definitely should be the flexibility for another sub. I do feel that’s one thing that could be looked at," he added.
Playing with the breeze at their backs, Donegal got off to a brighter start and led by 0-11 to 0-6 at half-time.

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, right, and Dublin manager Dessie Farrell after the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Donegal and Dublin at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
They also shot a number of wides during this opening period though Daire O Baoill was the exception, shooting six points (two points, two two pointers).
Dublin rallied in the second half to make a game of it but Donegal saw it out, thanks to insurance scores from the likes of Oisin Gallen and Paddy McBrearty.