Durack says finals should be decided the first day

Clare’s three-time All Star goalkeeper Seamus Durack believes the All-Ireland final replay has been demeaned by its Saturday evening throw-in.

He is also adamant the game should be decided on the one day because of the impact a second day has on club fixtures.

“It’s extraordinary in the least,” he said of the September 22 scheduling. “It’s being facilitated on a Saturday at five o’clock and it demeans the whole contest.

“It will take away from the atmosphere. The build-up of a replay is never as good as the first day because people come to expect it would be over the first day. The All-Ireland should be finished on the day. They also have to consider the impact replays have on club matches. They leave a lot of other players redundant and the lifeblood will be sucked out of the clubs if they’re sitting and waiting to play.

“November and December are the wrong months for games to be played but that’s what’s happening. I believe there should be extra-time as there is in Champions League and Heineken Cup finals.”

Durack also took issue with the rule that applies to the 21-yard free which became a major talking point during Sunday’s final.

“I’m not getting at Anthony Nash who’s a wonderful goalkeeper but it’s not right players being allowed to throw the ball up in the air seven yards in front of you. It’s a pure joke that has to be stopped. As far as I see it, once the ball is touched it’s hit so the players on the line should be allowed to advance.

“What you’re going to see is lads getting so good at it they’ll be hitting the ball from the edge of the small square. How can you expect lads to stay on the goal-line then? It’s unfair and quite dangerous as it is.

“What I’d like to see is a spot being marked 25 yards out and the player having to hit the ball on that spot. Just him and a goalkeeper in front of him. Nobody else.”

Durack has also joined the growing number of former and current players calling for the public clock, which comes into the Football Championship next year, to be introduced and referees to be relieved of time-keeping duties.

“The hooter in Australian Rules takes the whole uncertainty out of it. I won a championship in New York and the hooter ended a game when the ball was under my body. The responsibility for keeping time shouldn’t be with the referee. It would make things clearer and add something to the game.

“Referees wouldn’t be as criticised as much too and the GAA are generating enough money to bring in that technology.”