Late throw-in firmly in spotlight

Hurlers have expressed their dislike for playing under floodlights in the past — will it make a difference at Croke Park tomorrow evening?

In 1990, Tipperary as reigning All-Ireland champions faced an All-Stars selection in an exhibition game in Toronto’s SkyDome.

Played under lights, a few of them wore “eye black” under their eyes to reduce the glare shining down on them. But those who did smeared on the grease more for a skit than anything else. Playing games under floodlights wasn’t something any of them saw catching on back home.

They were right, to an extent: 23 years on and tomorrow’s All-Ireland final replay with a 5pm throw-in is set to be only the second championship game played under floodlights.

The first one? Another Saturday replay involving Davy Fitzgerald and Cork — the 2010 Munster hurling final won by Waterford after going into extra-time.

John Mullane played that evening and while it was a memorable one, it wasn’t for the artificial light. “I was never one for playing under floodlights and I maintain the All-Ireland final is the All-Ireland final and should be played in daylight,” he said.

Mullane’s view is shared by several in the game which has only embraced floodlights in the early stages of the National League and the occasional U21 All-Ireland final.

There is support for them in some quarters but not sufficient enough to introduce evening throw-ins in the championship.

From a player’s perspective, losing the flight of the ball was cited as a main drawback of floodlights. Through the gridded visor of a helmet, that difficulty is heightened.

In a league game against Tipperary in 2011, Davy Fitzgerald said the floodlights in Semple Stadium was the reason behind Shane O’Sullivan’s sending off for a pull on Gearoid Ryan. “He said he went to play the ball hard and lost it in the lights. That’s what he said.”

Tomorrow is set to be the third time the counties face each other under floodlights this year, their first meeting coming in the forgettable Waterford Crystal game in Sixmilebridge in February.

A month later, the Division 1A game under lights in Páirc Uí Rinn was interrupted by dropped balls and misjudged catches.

It’s not as if either team isn’t au fait with floodlights but Cork selector Ger Cunningham pointed out neither have experience of it in Croke Park.

“It’s not ideal for some guys. Some players wouldn’t be comfortable playing under lights. Some fellas have eyesight problems and find it difficult.”

Although Croke Park’s lights are set higher, which will decrease the possibility of glare, Eddie Brennan trusts if they are going to be turned on, they will be lit from the outset and not at some stage during the game.

“With the way the weather’s going they will probably need the lights and I presume they’ll have them on for both halves. The last thing you want is to play one half without them and then the other half with them. Play it the full game under lights, or not at all.

“Croke Park’s lights are quite good but a slight shadow can affect your vision and you can misjudge catching a ball.

“The lads will have trained under lights but it’s not just the same as playing an All-Ireland final under them.”

Mullane knows just how easy it is to miscue the ball under floodlights. “It can tend to happen. You can have difficulty with vision on match days with the lights. The final will be up to which team can deal with it best on the day.”

But could changing the colour of the ball do the trick? Earlier this month, former Cork goalkeeper Dónal Óg Cusack launched the Super Hurling 11s, which took place at last weekend’s festival in Galway and again in the US next month.

The sliotar in the goal-only game is yellow. For years, Brennan has called for the sliotar to be change from white. “The colour of the ball has to be changed to fluorescent orange or yellow. A different high-vis coloured ball would be ideal for hurling under lights because right now it can be lost very easily.”

If the ball isn’t a solution, then maybe the age old argument about condensing the All-Ireland championship and playing the final at the end of August could be one. Tomorrow, though, is a combination of the GAA setting the ladies football final Sunday in stone and adhering Garda advice on the later throw-in time.

Will this in time become the floodlit final? Possibly. Fingers crossed for the right reasons.

First time was unforgettable but second time’s a charm

Like it or lump it, replays are different. Here are 10 reasons why tomorrow just won’t feel the same as September 8. Warning, the painfully obvious is included too...

Day

The first All-Ireland final hurling replay in the history of the game to be on a Saturday; the first Saturday senior decider replay since Kerry beat Galway in 2000. It’s bound to be a little unusual.

Time

Because of the 5pm throw-in, it’s all but certain the floodlights will come in towards the latter stages of the game. Neither county is happy about the later start but the GAA weren’t responsible for it. The decision was taken on Garda advice.

Referee

Once upon a time, the referee who took charge of the first game would do the same for the replay. Just ask Tommy Howard. But those days are long gone now and it’s James McGrath who replaces Brian Gavin as the man in the middle.

Price

A great incentive by GAA president Liam O’Neill and director general Páraic Duffy last year cut the admission prices for the replay from the final. A stand ticket tomorrow costs €50 compared to €80 three weeks ago while a terrace ticket is €25 when it was €40. Family discounts are also available for those from the competing counties.

Ticket

The glossy, embossed, memento-made ticket released for the September 8 final has been replaced by an ordinary paper one for tomorrow.

New jerseys

At this stage, it’s usually the norm for the teams to wear new kit. Both Kilkenny and Galway last wore different jerseys with lettering reflecting they were playing a replay below their county crests.

Extra-time

Unlike the first game, there will be the facility of two additional 10-minute periods if the teams are again level after normal time.

No curtain-raiser

The GAA had briefly considered looking at putting one of the camogie finals before the replay had it ended as a draw. However, all were decided on the day and it may have caused issues regarding ticket allocations.

Different faces

Several ex-pats would have flown in for the first game but the expense of coming home again for the replay will be a turn-off for most. Likewise, booked holidays and the expense of another day out in Dublin will deprive some from being in Croke Park.

Attendance

Well, it’s hardly going to be 81,651 again, is it?