Wexford clubs likely to revive hooter campaign

WEXFORD clubs are likely to step up their campaign to have the hooter introduced into gaelic games after the county board’s monthly meeting this evening.

The argument for the system received a boost on Sunday when Dublin had a goal disallowed after referee Michael Wadding blew up for half-time before Conor McCormack’s shot hit the Kilkenny net.

Wexford club Clonard had the motion passed at last year’s Congress but it was later ruled out due to concerns about the cost of installing the mechanism.

County chairman Ger Doyle confirmed the matter is all but certain to be discussed although he understands Croke Park are opposed to it.

“The Uachtarán said the matter was now finished with,” said Doyle, referring to Christy Cooney’s comments at this year’s Congress in Westmeath. “The reason given was it was too expensive but I find it strange something passed at Congress wasn’t acted upon.”

Doyle can’t fathom why the GAA are looking at trialling Hawk-Eye score detection technology when he believes it’s likely to be far more costly than the hooter system, which is already in Ladies Gaelic football.

“Most grounds have a clock on their scoreboard and we believe it would be easier than believed to be implemented.

“Something needs to be done as regards contested scores. You saw over the weekend how rugby deals with them. Yet Hawk-Eye is going to be more expensive than the hooter. Okay, rugby has video evidence but they have fewer games and fewer grounds. It wouldn’t be that easy for the GAA.”