GAELIC GAMES:SATURDAY'S MEETING of the GAA's central council has approved a two-year pilot scheme to trial the Hawk-Eye score detection technology, writes Seán Moran.
It will be used at Leinster and All-Ireland championship matches at Croke Park for the next two years after which its long-term application will be reviewed and if so decided, a proposal to adopt the system permanently will go to annual congress.
Score detection applies exclusively to adjudicating whether or not scores have passed between the posts and over the bar or goal-line. It would not have any application with regard to‘square ball’ rulings.
The meeting also decided to change the structure of the NHL by adopting a two-group Division One with winners of each group playing off in the final. The groups are hierarchically organised with the top six counties from last year forming Division One A and the next six Division One B.
Division Two will be similarly organised. The bottom teams in each division will play each other to determine who gets relegated.
One A: Kilkenny, Dublin, Waterford, Tipperary, Galway, Cork; One B: Wexford, Offaly, Limerick, Clare, Laois, Antrim; Two A: Down, Carlow, Kerry, Westmeath, Wicklow, Derry; Two B: London, Kildare, Meath, Armagh, Mayo, Roscommon. Three A: Louth, Fingal, Donegal, Sligo, Monaghan, Tyrone; Three B: Longford, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Warwickshire.
The only change to the NFL sees the introduction of semi-finals in Division One, as decided by last April’s congress. The other divisions will play out on the same basis as this year.
