GAA insists on use of standardised sliotars in championship games

ONLY standardised sliotars from approved manufacturers will be used in this year’s All-Ireland hurling championship, starting from today, the GAA’s Central Council decided on Saturday.

The Hurling Development Committee’s Pat Dunny said his committee had approved sliotars from four manufacturers following testing from 18 manufacturers and suppliers at DCU over the winter.

GAA president Sean Kelly said all counties would be notified of the approved manufacturers this week in order to acquire the correct sliotars for use in training and club competitions. Inconsistency in the weight and size of the sliotars used for championship games last season proved controversial, particularly the lightweight ball used for games in Croke Park.

Central Council also decided on a 20-15 vote to amend regulations on team mascots in pre-match parades. Teams will be allowed to take one mascot on to the field for pre-match parades and photographs.

Other decisions taken at yesterday’s meeting included permission for football teams to appoint two official water carriers for matches and hurling teams four carriers of hurleys/water per team.

Also each team will be allowed nominate a team official stationed on the opposite sideline to that of the manager, for the purposes of communication with players.

The Competition Review Task Force also presented its finding, and yesterday’s meeting approved the following recommendations:

From 2005, the All-Ireland U-21 Football Championship will not commence until the second weekend in March and the All-Ireland final will be played on the second Sunday in May.

From 2005, there will be no live TV coverage of championship games starting after 3.30pm on Saturday or senior championship replays commencing after 4pm on Sunday.

Finally, the meeting was unanimous in approving a special motion to allow the Tyrone County Board “stand down” the No 3 jersey for this year’s championship in honour of the late Cormac MacAnallen.