GAA duty is to protect refs and players from criticism and physical danger

Let me begin by placing my cards on the table. I am a lifelong Cork hurling supporter, but I believe the rules of hurling should forbid penalties being carried forward and struck at the goal from point-blank range.

The art that Anthony Nash perfected, while spectacular to behold, was a serious accident waiting to happen. Former Limerick goalkeeper Joe Quaid once lost a testicle saving a penalty; we should not allow the same to happen again, or worse.

Having said that, there is an appropriate way to deal with this: change the rules. But this, according to the GAA’s own rules, is a matter for Congress and it failed to tackle it last winter. Cork is getting the blame for this but since individual counties do not have powers of veto on decisions of Congress, there is plenty of blame to go around.