Hawk-Eye ready for test

THE GAA have confirmed Hawk-Eye’s score technology will be tested in Croke Park tomorrow week — but not as previously stated by president Christy Cooney.

Croke Park yesterday announced the system will be in operation for the Dublin hurlers and footballers’ Allianz League games against Kilkenny and Down.

However, the GAA revealed it “will not form part of the match day or score-keeping apparatus and will not be used by the match referee or his assistants”.

Last month, Cooney suggested the technology would be used in a live capacity.

“We will use it for the game as a proper trial and get the referee linked up as well, otherwise it’s not a feasibility study if you don’t try everything out properly.”

However, Cooney yesterday stated the findings would have no impact in either game.

“This is the next step in the feasibility study which will be presented to Ard Chomhairle which will ultimately determine whether or not the technology is deemed suitable for use with Gaelic games.

“Having football and hurling here on the same day means using this date makes perfect sense but despite the presence of the equipment it will have no direct role in the game or bearing on how scores are recorded.”

The GAA’s statement caught some unaware as there had been no indication from Croke Park the score detection apparatus would be tested in a hurling game.

The GAA had previously said they were looking at either the Dublin footballers’ game against Mayo, which was played last Sunday, or the date with Down.

However, hurling is regarded by Hawk-Eye as providing the real litmus test for their tracking system in Gaelic games.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner in January, the company’s operations director Steve Carter revealed they needed to fine-tune the technology to ensure it “will meet the unique demands that Gaelic games —especially hurling — places upon our technology.”