The number of cards shown during the GAA’s 2014 regular league season almost halved since last year and the introduction of the black card, according to the association.

In 2013, games averaged 8.32 cards per game, when yellow and red were the only options available to the referee. That figure has dropped to 4.39 per game since the third card was brought in, figures released today show.

Just 0.8 black cards have been shown per game, according to the Central Competitions Control Committee, whose figures show yellow cards have also nearly halved from 7.78 to 3.79.

The number of scores per game is up by over 10 per cent, with each match registering 2.38 goals per game, up from last year’s 1.79. In each of the last three seasons goals per game have not reached 1.80.

Points are up from 23.92 to 25.62, while the average score total has risen from 29.36 to 32.77.

A 20-year analysis of the scoring figures, however, shows a general increase of over 40 per cent since the 1993/94 season.