Hooter system will get time to work
Congress backed a motion to introduce a clock/hooter system to signal the conclusion of top flight games which will require significant investment across the country.
Cooney admits there are concerns about the costs of the venture and also revealed there is uncertainty about whether a countdown clock will be used as part of the new plan.
Cooney said: “It’s going to be a challenge for us in some of the county grounds. We’re going to have to look into it and put a system in place that will work effectively.”
He warned: “There could be a fair cost. The motion was passed, so we’re going to try and test it. We decided on a hooter system when the game has to be finished; that was one of the criticisms of the Leagues that players didn’t know when the game was going to finish.
“The Central Competitions Control Committee will see what the best system is and ensure it is workable and transparent. We have to work through that through the summer and into the autumn, so we’re ready when the Leagues come around.
“Will it work? I don’t know. But we’re going to make a decent effort to make it as workable as possible. Then we’ll judge it at next year’s Congress whether we’ll bring it on or not.”
The GAA president plans to consult with the Ladies Football Association to identify what teething problems they experienced when introducing the hooter system but insisted that the responsibility of time keeping will remain with the referee.
“We’ll talk with them and how it worked for them, and what issues and challenges they faced originally. We can learn from everybody and it’s important that we talk to them.
“The referee will have to make the call on time still. That’s what happens in ladies football. The referee makes the call on how much time is left, he has an ear piece and notifies the fourth official. There’s no other way of doing it. The control is always going to be with the referee.”
Cooney is also confident that the new ruling concerning water carriers will be a success and curtail the amount of people encroaching onto the pitch during games.
“Players have to come to the sideline now to get water. There were a number of suggestions made about this and the CCCC agreed with those. It’s really to stop too many people going on and off the pitch. That was just gone ridiculous.
“In this day and age, teams have massive support. I’m sure they can put in the preparations to get the necessary liquids to get them through 35 minutes of a game. There are four carriers on each side and two at the endline. There’ll be enough breaks in play for teams to go get water. I’m sure it will be criticised but let’s see if it can work and make a better presentation for our games.”
Ahead of next Sunday’s NHL Division 1 final in Thurles, Cooney defended the timing of the match which has drawn criticism due to the evening throw-in.
“The CCCC made the decision bearing in mind the issues that have arisen over bank holidays previously with traffic. So they felt this was the best time to run it, and I’m happy with their decision and fully support it.”
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