Head on: inter-county stars braced for new helmet rule

SEVERAL leading intercounty hurlers are set to be affected by yesterday’s declaration by GAA chiefs that every player competing in next year’s All-Ireland SHC must wear a hurling helmet with a full face guard.

New regulations, which come into effect on January 1 require all players to wear helmets and face guards at all times for both training and matches. The move will see senior players follow the minor and U21 grades where the use of protective headwear has been compulsory in recent seasons.

Referees will be obliged to stop matches if a player appears on the field without the correct headgear and the player will only be allowed to continue in the match if he complies with the new rules.

But the initiative, which has been introduced in an attempt to eradicate serious head and eye injuries incurred by players, will force a number of leading hurlers to start wearing helmets. Top intercounty goalkeepers will be primarily affected along with outfield players like Cork duo Sean Óg O hAilpín and John Gardiner, Waterford attackers Eoin Kelly and John Mullane, Limerick defensive pair Brian Geary and Mark Foley, Kilkenny’s Michael Kavanagh and Clare’s Brian O’Connell.

Former Cork full-back Diarmuid O’Sullivan recently announced his retirement completely from hurling due to the helmet rule and blasted the new initiative. But GAA president Christy Cooney remains confident that the new regulations will be a success despite the difficulties it poses for older inter-county hurlers.

“We appreciate that the new rulings which come into effect on January 1 next will mean a change and a challenge for some of our adult hurlers. However in the interests of the safety of those who play our games, it was incumbent on us as an Association to reach this point and a date is now fixed and in front of us to work towards.

“When the same rule change was announced for the minor and U21 grades some of our followers predicted problems. But thankfully the players, trainers and managers bought into the spirit of the rule and helped create a general acceptance of the change.”