Goal-line tech moves closer

GOAL-LINE technology could be implemented in time for next year’s All-Ireland championships if a presentation on the Hawkeye system is received favourably by the GAA’s Management Committee next month.

GAA Head of Games Pat Daly yesterday revealed that both the Hawkeye and catching nets systems have been examined by a research committee and the Hawkeye system will now go before the GAA’s Management Committee where issues like costing will be addressed.

If the system gets the green light there, it could then go forward to next April’s Congress in Mullingar and come into action next summer.

Daly believes it is unrealistic for the system to be only implemented in Croke Park.

“I don’t think it’s realistic to talk about having it in Croke Park and Croke Park only. Then people who play games in Thurles will say that they are disenfranchised. There are things like, if the ball goes over the post, it’s possible to extend the post virtually and see did the ball go over the post. Then people will say ‘what happens if it would have hit the post?’ I think it would be safest to rule that if a ball goes over the post that it isn’t deemed a point.

“What you have is two cameras facing opposite each other at right angles. They can establish where the ball is within a plane, where it is in relation to the posts and whether or not it went between the post. They claim that they can within a second, via something like a beep in the referee’s ear-piece, of the ball crossing the plane, whether or not the ball passed inside or outside the post. The ball-catcher nets aren’t out. If you are going to use Hawkeye, it is going to be on a pretty limited, restricted basis. The ultimate solution is a combination.”

Daly admits that costing is a serious issue that needs to be investigated.

“Hawkeye have said that it could be provided on a cost-neutral basis. This would be on the basis that they could get some rights around that. It’s one thing to purchase the technology, but then you need an operative at each game. If the cost factor could be dealt with, if the operational thing could be dealt with, if issues around broadcast rights could be dealt with (ie Hawkeye selling rights to sponsor replays of scores), you’d say it would have potential in the same way it has potential in tennis and cricket.”

Meanwhile National Director of Hurling Paudie Butler has revealed that GAA chiefs are formulating a plan to create a new hurling province involving the seven lower tier counties in Connacht, Ulster and Leinster, which would see them withdraw from the National Hurling Leagues in favour of extended club competitions. Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Fermanagh, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth are the seven counties identified, with the possibility of Tyrone as an eighth. The plans would curb the travel costs incurred by those counties during the spring in league games.

“We have a big idea coming forward about a fifth province and I think it will come to fruition. For instance Sligo and Leitrim, Connacht can’t do much for them as they are not up to that level to compete (with Galway) and their clubs are isolated. But 20 miles away you’d have several other clubs. We’re talking about underage hurling and then let it come into for adult.

“The championship is a guarantee, that’s protected. The national league and the cost of the travel is a concern. We have to be careful that we do the right thing now. Hurling people don’t want to be tricked into something that is cost saving for football. We don’t undermine hurling now that it has a foothold.”

Butler’s five-year tenure as National Hurling Director ends next April and he is confident that the state of hurling nationally has improved since he assumed his post.

“I’m happy in the five years that we have turned a corner for hurling. We have more players playing and higher skill levels in the weaker counties. We now have 300 hurling walls in action as against none five years ago. They were 15 or 16 counties who would write off the year once the league was over but now everyone has a chance of winning in four divisions. That’s a massive improvement.”

* DERMOT EARLEY is targeting a return to the Kildare colours next year but will miss the entire league and the beginning of the championship.