‘It’s going to take a serious shot to score a penalty now,’ says Cody

Both Brian Cody and Eamon O’Shea believe the odds are stacked against penalty takers converting penalties after Seamus Callanan and John O’Dwyer both had efforts saved yesterday.

As a result of a new interpretation earlier this season, all penalties and 20m frees have to be taken before or on the 20m line whereas before, players had been permitted to lift them beyond the line.

The measure was introduced as a result of Anthony Nash and others’ ability to lift the ball several metres forward. And while Pa Horgan and Joe Canning managed to convert penalties and a 20m free after it was introduced, the conversion rate has dropped remarkably since.