Sinbin moving back on to agenda

GAELIC GAMES:The GAA is to revisit the concept of the sinbin. Nearly three years ago the idea of dismissing players who receive yellow cards, but allowing them to be replaced, was experimented with in the pre-season competitions as well as during the National Leagues. Seán Moran, GAA Correspondent, reports.

The trial proved controversial, with several managers critical in the face of losing their players, and the provision was dropped even before congress of that year, even though the introduction was proved to have reduced the incidence of fouling.

"It's only at an early stage," according to Croke Park's director of games, Pat Daly. "We're discussing it in consultation with focus groups to see if there is a willingness to take a more considered look at the idea. Only when the research is done will we take it farther. We don't intend to jump into it, but there is a need to address the problem of systematic fouling."

The GAA is due to hold a special congress in January to consider proposals relating to reducing the pressure on club fixtures as well as to combat burnout. That time frame is unlikely to allow for the type of preparatory work envisaged by Daly.

"Probably not," he says. "Anyway, if we are to give this a proper chance it would probably be a good idea to introduce it at the start of the following calendar year, as was done with the recent disciplinary changes. When something gets passed by congress it's supposed to come in a few weeks later, and that could cause the same sort of confusion we had when the yellow and red cards were introduced."

Were that timetable to be followed, the sinbin could see an introduction in 2009.

"That would make sense," says Daly, "because that year is designated as a year for experimenting with playing rules. Perhaps if you get agreement it would be possible to introduce it in the minor championships.

"I think this time around we would approach the situation a bit differently. Three years ago the proposals were finalised in a hurry. They'd be more considered this time with proper consultation to explain what we were trying to do."

At a congress dominated by the 2005 presidential election and the debate on Rule 42 and the use of Croke Park by other sports, the motions on discipline passed by with little focus.

After the furore caused by the previous experiment the idea was dropped, with only a proposal to penalise serial yellow-card offenders being seriously pursued at the 2005 congress. Even that modest proposal was unsuccessful on the floor.

Meanwhile, Ned Power, one of the great personalities in Waterford GAA and an influential coach, passed away yesterday. He had been unwell for some time.

A member of the most successful Waterford hurling team, he won an All-Ireland medal in 1959 after the replay victory over Kilkenny, having been on the panel that reached the final two years previously when they lost to their neighbours.

Power was also on the team that won the National Hurling League in 1963 - the last time the county achieved that distinction until earlier this year - and reached that year's All-Ireland, again against Kilkenny who again won.

He is immortalised in a famous picture showing him acrobatically taking a high ball from Christy Ring in a Munster championship match.

From Dungarvan, Power was associated with Tallow where he spent his career as a teacher with the local boys' primary school and where his coaching prowess was in evidence, leading the local club to county titles in 1980, '84 and '85.

A member of the county management team in the 1980s, he was regarded as one of the progressive coaches of his time.

Limerick's Mark Foley has emerged as a late injury concern for Adare ahead of Sunday's Munster club hurling semi-final against Tipperary champions Loughmore-Castleiney.

Adare manager Ger O'Loughlin has revealed that Foley is struggling with a calf problem, but it is hoped the inspirational half back will respond to treatment ahead of the Gaelic Grounds showdown.

The Limerick champions can ill-afford to lose Foley as fellow county player Conor Fitzgerald has already been ruled out with a broken collarbone sustained against Croom in last Sunday's county final.

O'Loughlin said Fitzgerald's absence is difficult to quantify as he was one of the main driving forces behind the club's successful assault on the Limerick championship. O'Loughlin said: "Conor will be a huge loss but we just have to get on with it. He's a very serious club hurler and you couldn't really overestimate his value."