Cork chairman refuses to comment on sliothar controversy

COUNTY Board chairman Jim Forbes has refused to comment on suggestions that Cork could be punished by the GAC for trying to gain an unfair advantage by introducing their own brand of sliothar during last Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Antrim.

“There has been no communication with our county board about it and therefore I have no comment to make,” said Mr. Forbes.

During the the second half, there was a difference of opinion as goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack went to get a sliothar from the back of the net. Subsequently an Antrim player pucked a sliothar up into the crowd on the Cusack Stand side of the field.

Head of Games in Croke Park, Pat Daly, said that there are a number of counties messing around with sliothars which has been an ongoing problem over the last five years.

“The problem last Sunday was that guys won’t use the balls supplied by the ball boys and the umpires. While there are 10 approved manufacturers supplying sliothars, counties still persist in bringing in their own.

“Just because there are 10 approved manufacturers doesn’t mean that the balls they supply on any given day, meet the required specifications. Some can be light, others heavy.

“The only way we can be satisfied that the balls coming from within those 10 manufacturers are up to spec. is by checking them before they are used. Only balls that are weighed and measured and that we can stand over, are permissible.

“The balls given to the ballboys are the only ones to be used as they meet with the criteria laid down by the GAC. We have noted what went on last Sunday and must insist that no team has an advantage over the other.”

Kevin Cummins has confirmed his company is one of the 10 approved manufacturers. “We have been making sliothars since 1974 and counties Clare, Tipperary, Limerick, Cork and Kilkenny are among our best customers.”