Committee to present Hawkeye recommendations in August

GAELIC GAMES:THE RECURRING disputes of scores in high-profile championship matches, exacerbated by two incidents in the Limerick versus Wexford football qualifier last Saturday night, will be addressed by the GAA management committee at their next meeting on August 19th.

It is at this two-day gathering in Croke Park that the GAA research committee, chaired by Seán Donnelly from Kilmacud Crokes, will present their recommendations with regards to the introduction of Hawkeye and other recently-trialled measures.

Following a consistent flow of controversial decisions, which includes Joe Sheridan’s goal for Meath in last year’s Leinster football final and Graham Geraghty’s disallowed effort for Meath against Kildare in June, the issue resurfaced in injury time at O’Moore Park on Saturday night.

With the teams locked at 1-17, Ian Ryan’s free was waved wide by one umpire but flagged a point by his colleague. Referee Derek Fahy intervened to award the point that ended Wexford’s championship campaign and sees Limerick progress to face Kerry in an All-Ireland quarter-final this Sunday.

An earlier point by Ryan was also deemed a wide by the umpire, who couldn’t have known for certain as he ducked out of the way of the shot, only to change his mind when approached by two Limerick players.

The same umpire subsequently awarded the winning point.

“It looked like it was a yard wide,” said Wexford goalkeeper Anthony Masterson.

“How long are we going to let decisions like this go in the GAA? We’ve given up everything and we’re gone out of the championship. It is just so disappointing.”

There are two other potential changes to be examined by the research committee. This would see the height of all intercounty posts extended from 10.67 metres to at least 13 metres, and/or a ball-catcher net being attached to the posts (see panel).

“A score detection facility would have give a definitive answer in Portlaoise,” admitted the GAA head of games Pat Daly yesterday.

“It is all due for discussion when the research committee report is submitted to management at the next meeting on August 19th and 20th.

“At the moment it is a cost issue,” Daly continued when asked about the feasibility of Hawkeye being adopted. “It may require some form of sponsorship (to fund it). There are other variables. Will it just be in Croke Park? Will the big screen be used to play back contentious scores? All this must be discussed by at the management meeting.”

Donnelly is joined on the research committee by Dessie Farrell, chief executive of the Gaelic Players Association, Fiona Coyle from the Irish Sports Council, Michael McGeehan from Coaching Ireland, Gary Rice from Beauchamps Solicitors, Cork minor hurling manager John Considine, Adrian McGuckian of Derry football and Prof Niall Moyna from DCU, who also has long-standing ties with Dublin GAA.

However, if Hawkeye is adopted it would go against the personal views of GAA president Christy Cooney.

“I think there is very little wrong with what is going on,” said Cooney last September. “I’ve said this before: our games are built on passion. Our games are about the continuous flow of the game. The last thing I want is a lot of stoppages. It doesn’t do anything to help us.

“At the end of the day, the onus or responsibility for making decisions rests with our referees and that will never change. It has to be that way.

“One person can only make the final decision. The referee has the authority and can consult with his six officials.”

Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney was also questioned on the issue yesterday.

“I think something has to be done. Even the square ball, which has gone against us, we had a system last year where it was a better rule. If you can’t apply a rule, can’t implement it, what’s the point in having it?

“It is tough on the referees. I give off about them but I feel for them because I know what it is like to try and coach, so I don’t know what it is like out there to try and implement (rules). They are trying to do their best.

“I think we need to introduce rules that help the game rather than hinder it.”

Is there another controversial moment coming regarding a score in this season’s championship?

“It’s a cert, so it is,” said McGeeney. “An absolute cert that it is going to happen. You see the emotion that runs high with Wexford, but you can’t blame the lad (Masterson). At the same time, I don’t blame the referee. It is a tough call.

“I definitely think we can come up with something better.

“We have seven people devoted to the officiating at games, eight actually when you count the touchline thing. I know I have said this before and I am doing myself no favours, but if you can count the number times a water carrier crosses the line or the amount of times a selector stands up when he shouldn’t stand up, surely we can tell when the ball goes over the bar.”

Controversial Wides Solutions

Option 1

Adopt Hawkeye technology

Trialled in Croke Park for the National Football and Hurling League finals, the main restriction to Gaelic games becoming the second field sports, after cricket, to introduce it seems to be cost.

The debate over Ian Ryan’s winning point against Wexford on Saturday night would have been solved by using the technology.

Option 2

Increase height of goal posts

Currently most goal posts at county grounds are just 10.67 metres. At Croke Park they are 13 metres.

The research committee are due to recommend an increase to 16 metres that should make it visible to the naked eye whether most sky-scraper shots are within the uprights.

Option 3

Introduce ball-catcher nets

This will tell whether the ball or sliotar is inside or outside the posts. These have been trialled at Scariff GAA club in Clare to some success.

If the ball/sliotar goes over the bar it drops into the net, if not, it hits the deck. An obvious flaw is if the shot goes higher than the posts.