Keher relishing opportunity to bring ideas to hurling forum

Kilkenny hurling legend Eddie Keher is looking forward to delivering his document on the game to the newly-formed committee headed up by Tipperary’s 2010 All-Ireland winning manager Liam Sheedy.

On foot of Keher’s work and endorsement by Brian Cody, GAA president Liam O’Neill announced he would be establishing a forum to debate the state of hurling.

At Saturday’s Central Council, it was announced Sheedy would head up a committee, which includes the likes of Keher’s countyman Pat Henderson, Michael Duignan, Terence “Sambo” McNaughton, Ollie Canning, Ollie Moran and Paul Flynn.

Keher responded: “I’m delighted it’s happening and I know Liam Sheedy is a very good guy. The line-up on the panel is terrific. You’ve lads who have been through the mill and cross generations of hurling. I’d welcome the opportunity to put my proposals to them at some stage. In fairness to the president, he honoured his commitment and there are some great hurling people there with experience.”

Keher is particularly keen to give the committee a full explanation of his reasoning for the end of yellow and red cards in hurling as he believes some of his arguments were misrepresented.

“Some of it has been misconstrued in the media, things about ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ and getting back to that. But that completely missed the point. It was totally off the radar and not the intention of what I put down on paper.

“I don’t for one second condone dirty play. What I would like to see is the physical nature of hurling protected and that can be done without cards.”

Meanwhile, the standing playing rules committee met in Croke Park last night. There remains the possibility the black card or at least a watered down version of it being extended to hurling, although members of the group such as Pat McEnaney are against it.