Cost the key factor for goal-line technology

GAA CENTRAL COUNCILCOST WILL be the overriding factor when Saturday's meeting of Central Council considers the GAA's potential use of score-detection technology – but that's assuming any recommendation even gets that far.

First up will be tomorrow’s presentation to Management Committee, where the special research committee charged with exploring the various options for so-called goal-line technology, will make their preferences known: the Hawk-Eye brand, already widely used in tennis and cricket, may well be the most effective, but there will be cheaper options too, including extending the height of all intercounty posts (from 10.67 metres to at least 13 metres), and/or attaching a ball-catcher net to the posts.

Such technological proposals have in the past been treated with some considerable caution by Management Committee, and it may be that further clarification or cost-analysis is requested before any recommendation is subsequently made to Central Council for potential adoption.

According the Lisa Clancy, the GAA’s Director of Communications, any decision on the use of score-detection technology will first depend on how well the presentation is received by Management Committee.

“We would hope that there would be some decision made this weekend,” she said, “but like everything else, queries do arise from time to time, and some clarification may be sought and certain other questions may need to be answered before the thing proceeds.”

The GAA has already defended its decision to deal exclusively with the UK-based Hawk-Eye brand, rather than explore potential Irish-based companies or research institutions – claiming that even by worldwide standards it remains the only firm complying with the necessary standards.

However it has already been estimated that a widespread use of Hawk-Eye would cost the GAA in the region of €500,000 per year. Last October, Central Council rejected a proposal to install countdown clocks at all intercounty grounds on the basis of costs, estimated at €250,000, even though a motion of their experimental use had been passed at Congress.

The likely compromise would be to install Hawk-Eye in Croke Park only, on a two-year trial basis, before committing to such wider expense.

The GAA have also indicated that they have certain demands of their own: “You have uprights that are very high and shake in the wind,” said director general Páraic Duffy. “So you have to be absolutely certain that the technology is 100 per cent effective, and there are a lot of technical issues around making Hawk-Eye work for the GAA.”

It has also been suggested that some form of sponsorship would be tied in with any potential Hawk-Eye use, but either way, cost will be pivotal to any decision made by Management Committee, and possibly force them to look at the two cheaper options before making their recommendation to Central Council.

Also to be debated by Central Council – in addition to the new league structures for 2012, as outlined yesterday – is the GAA’s new standing committee on playing rules, which will have the power to bring motions to Congress every year to alter playing rules. As things stand playing rule changes can only be debated every five years.

The committee is set to include GPA representatives Dessie Farrell and Donal Óg Cusack, and if approved, top of their agenda will be an amendment to the square-ball rule, the root of several controversial calls this summer. If their subsequent recommendation is brought to Congress it could be amended in time for next year’s championship.

A further item to be considered by Central Council is the request of the Kerry county board to allow the winners of the Christy Ring Cup take part in the All-Ireland hurling qualifiers – although not the provincial championship.

Kerry won the 2011 Christy Ring Cup back in June, and with that have the option of competing in next year’s Munster championship and thus the MacCarthy Cup proper.

However, Kerry officials reckon the Munster championship remains a little too competitive for them at this stage of their development, but that a game in the qualifiers – given it would come immediately after the 2012 Christy Ring Cup – would better suit their competitive status and development.