Limerick’s appeal over Hawk-Eye begins today

Croke Park will this afternoon begin the process of hearing Limerick’s appeal against the result of last Sunday’s All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final – with potential implications for the future use of the Hawk-Eye score detection technology.

Both parties have emphasised the need for a swift outcome, whatever that may be, with the first stage of the appeal process being heard by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC), who must decide whether or not the Hawk-Eye malfunction at the start of Sunday's defeat to Galway offers proper cause for Limerick's appeal, either within the rules or otherwise.

What is certain is that Limerick’s appeal is based on the argument the Hawk-Eye malfunction cost them the game, even though it was eventually won by Galway in extra-time. They are “objecting to the result of the game, at the end of the 60 minutes” and with that “appealing to have the result rescinded”.

Limerick have also indicated that they intend taking their appeal "one step at a time", which may well be all the way to the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA). In the meantime the Limerick minor management and players met for the first time yesterday evening, partly to resume some level of training, at the Gaelic Grounds, suggesting that Limerick do intend on taking their appeal as far as possible.

Disputed scores
Although the GAA rulebook makes it clear that disputed scores are not valid grounds for challenging the results of matches (Rule 7.10 (n) stating "no objection or counter-objection may be submitted on grounds that a referee had incorrectly allowed or failed to allow a score" the Limerick appeal is based on the unique events of last Sunday, when Limerick's Barry Nash shot the first point, approved by both umpires, only for the Hawk-Eye system to incorrectly declare it a "miss" – even though the graphic on the big screen showed the arc of the ball going comfortably through the posts.

This has subsequently been explained an “error in match-day set-up” of the Hawk-Eye technology. Any hope that Galway might offer a replay were cut early on, however, as their hurling secretary John Hynes made it quite clear that they were preparing their minors for the All-Ireland minor final on September 8th, against Waterford.

It would thus appear the only possible outcome to Limerick’s appeal is for the CCCC to award them the game, a decision which would almost certainly be met with some sort of counter-appeal by Galway.

Meanwhile, both Mayo and Tyrone are reporting no fresh injury worries ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland football semi-final at Croke Park. Both managers will announce their starting line-ups after training this evening, with Mayo manager James Horan unlikely to make any major changes from the comprehensive quarter-final win over Donegal.

There were rumours that Andy Moran may have suffered a fresh setback to the cruciate injury which kept him sidelined for the best part of nine months since the 2012 All-Ireland quarter-final win over Down, but there were no such worries within the Mayo camp: "Everyone who was available the last day is okay for this Sunday, provided they come through training tonight," said Mayo press officer Aidan McLoughlin.

Horan does face one selection dilemma on who wears the number one jersey. Both first-choice goalkeeper David Clarke and his number two Kenneth O'Malley missed the comprehensive defeat of All-Ireland champions Donegal on August 4th, resulting in Robert Hennelly being called in from the cold to stand between the posts.

Only beaten once
Hennelly, as it turned out, hardly put a foot wrong, only beaten once, and late on, as Colm McFadden blasted a late free into the Mayo net.

Clarke will once again miss out due a hamstring injury, although O’Malley has now returned to training, followed an ankle strain forced him to miss out the last day, too. Corner forward Mickey Conroy has also worked his way back to match fitness.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte must decide who fills the vacancy left by the suspended Martin Penrose. Ronan McNabb is now being suggested as the likely replacement, with Ronan O'Neill also in contention.

There is also increasing concern within the Kerry camp, as they prepare for Sunday week’s sell-out semi-final clash with Dublin, that defender Tomas Ó Sé may not be fit enough to start as a back injury he picked up in training over a week ago, is causing the player more discomfort than it appeared it would at the time.