Munster Council bans live video analysis at grounds

The "live feed review" option utilised by most elite intercounty management teams will not be permitted by the Munster Council at Sunday's provincial football championship semi-finals. Or any other football and hurling championship matches this year.

Munster secretary Simon Moroney wrote to six counties, citing “health and safety” and “cost” issues for banning analytical experts using their own cable to supply instant replays to pitch-side management.

Individual cameras used by analysts are also prohibited with the Munster Council believing this could be a “rights issues.”

Instead the analytical teams at Munster venues must rely on footage supplied by television stations or a live feed via the wifi, which is notoriously unreliable in most grounds around the country.

‘Health and safety’

“You would have cables travelling around a stadium where people are walking,” Munster spokesman Ger Ryan explained as the health and safety issue.

Is that not already an issue with television cables? “Well, that’s all professionally done and laid in advance. There are strict protocols and guidelines for that.

“Costs would relate to the changes that would have to be made to accommodate (the analysts) in full compliance with health and safety.”

Breffni Park constructed an analytical boot, also in place at Croke Park (built for rugby and soccer), as Australia’s International Rules management insisted on it before playing a Test match in Cavan in 2013.

Such a facility does not exist in Thurles or Páirc uí­ Rinn, where the Munster football semi-finals, Tipperary versus Kerry and Cork versus Clare, take place.

“No issue has been raised with us,” Ryan added. “If there are issues we are happy to discuss them with counties. We believe that there are adequate facilities there through contact with RTÉ and through arrangements that can be made with television providers to meet the needs of analysis. We do supply them with space in every stadium to do their work. We will facilitate them if there isn’t live TV coverage.”

Basically, Munster counties will not have use of the cutting-edge technology available to managers of Leinster and Ulster football teams around the country this weekend. Specifically, the live review facility, which allows managers to see a passage of play within seconds via alternative angles not supplied by television cameras.

“The fact that this comes mid-season, if it had of been set up at the start of the year that you can’t use it, you wouldn’t be planning your match day set up to be having live feed,” said Waterford hurling manager Derek McGrath. “You are glad to have the information. It’s definitely an aid. No point in saying any different.”

World Cup bid

The building of an area similar to Breffni park in Munster grounds is “not under consideration at present”.

This would need to become a consideration for the Munster Council if GAA stadiums are to remain a part of the IRFU 2023 World Cup bid. Semple Stadium, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the Gaelic Grounds and Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney have been mentioned as possible venues.

The Kerry football management didn’t want to make any comment on this issue in the week of their opening championship fixture against Tipperary but manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice is on record supporting the technology supplied by Avenir Sports.

“We had help from Avenir for the 2009 All-Ireland final and found it very useful so we got the package in 2010 and have used it extensively since,” said Fitzmaurice in a testimonial on Avenirsports.ie.

Others speaking on the website are Mickey Harte and Joe Canning.