No room for video technology in Gaelic games, says official

A LEADING GAA official has declared that the use of video referees to determine whether disputed scores dissected the goalposts or went wide would not work in Gaelic games.

The debate has cropped up yet again this week after a point that was awarded to Galway’s Ger Farragher from a sideline during the first-half of Sunday’s Leinster SHC semi-final against Offaly.

Spectators behind the Hill 16 goal and in the Hogan Stand enjoyed the best angles from which to judge the shot and there was an immediate roar of disapproval when the umpire waved the white flag.

Offaly eventually recovered from a poor start and the second-half dismissal of Daniel Currams to rescue a draw and a replay in Portlaoise Saturday but Farragher’s controversial score remains a sticking point.

Leinster Council chairman Sheamus Howlin was one of those onlookers who felt that the effort went wide but the Wexford man believes that games could not be “stopped every five minutes” to consult video footage.

“I was in the Ard Comhairle section (of the Hogan Stand) and I thought it was wide, not by two feet or anything like that, maybe by no more than a foot. But a man next to me thought it went over.

“I thought there were a couple of other efforts that were waved wide that might have gone over as well but umpires and referees can get things wrong. They can’t get everything right.

“I don’t think replays would work. There are so many scores in our games compared to rugby where there might be only a few and soccer where it might finish 1-0 or 2-0.”

Last Sunday wasn’t the first time that there had been some controversy over an attempt on goal in Croke Park this summer. Meath’s Joe Sheridan had a debatable effort waved wide in the drawn SFC tie against Meath.

The most famous such incident also took place in a Leinster football championship fixture. In 1995, Laois offered Louth a replay after they claimed a one-point win on the back of a Louth wide which everyone agreed had been a point. The Leinster Council would have surely faced calls for something similar this week had Offaly lost to Galway by the minimum but Shane Dooley’s injury-time equaliser from a long-distance free was some reward for his team’s fine performance.

Howlin was full of praise for Offaly who he described as being “dead and buried” on more than one occasion. The performance was particularly welcome given the heavy defeat suffered by Dublin in the day’s opener at Croke Park.

Just over 25,000 spectators paid in to see the action at HQ two days ago and Howlin – who defended GAA attendances in Sunday’s programme notes – declared himself more than happy with such a turnout.

“We were saying last week that if we got over 20,000 we would be doing well so we are more than happy with what we got given there was one county from outside the province involved as well.”

Though a magnificent stadium, Croke Park can be a soulless backdrop when it is only half or quarter-full and there would appear to be a case for taking the hurling semi-finals back to the provinces in the years to come.

“I am a great believer in the home and away concept and that is something we will have to look into,” said Howlin, “but I would have to say that I would like to have seen more Dublin supporters there on Sunday.”

A crowd of just over 12,000 took in the Leinster SFC quarter-final replay between Meath and Laois on Saturday evening but it has emerged than one spectator was asked to leave after an incident in the stands.

The man in question is believed to have thrown a plastic drinks bottle onto the field at one stage of the second-half and was subsequently asked to leave the ground by match stewards in the main stand.

Howlin yesterday praised the stewards for the manner in which they dealt with the incident and there was no suggestion that the object was aimed specifically at any of the players or officials.