Hawk-Eye won’t go nationwide, says O’Neill

Its All-Ireland final intervention avoided one of the greatest barstool debates in hurling history but the idea of a national roll out for Hawk-Eye’s score detection technology remains unlikely.

GAA President Liam O’Neill agreed had Hawk-Eye not been in place last Sunday to confirm John O’Dwyer’s late effort at glory as marginally off, Tipperary fans would probably be claiming ‘I saw the ball go over the bar’ for years to come.

But while the subsequent replay has delivered an anticipated €3m pay day to the Association, an obvious source of funding for Hawk-Eye’s installation at various other grounds, O’Neill ruled this out.

He insisted it has nothing to do with financial constraints but rather is to do with the fundamental difficulties of actually installing the high-tech apparatus at provincial venues.

“We want to bring it to other grounds but it is not as simple as doing that,” said O’Neill. “You need a number of fixed cameras. You can’t just put a Hawk-Eye camera on a pole because if there is even a fraction of a waver, then it doesn’t work.

“That’s why it is fixed rigidly to the stands here at Croke Park. I think there’s only a couple of venues around the country where it could be done at the moment.

“It’s very sensitive technology. To get it working on the Hill 16 End, they actually had to put a darkened screen on, because the light was interfering with it so they had to tweak it to do that.

“That probably would exist even more so in other places. We asked more of Hawk-Eye than any other game. Cricket is a crease of 22 yards, isn’t it? And a tennis court is around the same, and it is perfect for that.

“But to do it over 145m by 90m, and with the height difference the hurling ball goes, we asked questions of it and it took a long time to get it right. And if you remember, we said we wouldn’t do it unless it was right.”

O’Neill insisted that his lukewarm reaction to any Hawk-Eye roll out had nothing to do with the cost element, which would be substantial.

“We have never shirked from spending money on something that is worthwhile,” he continued. “We went ahead with it and were criticised for the amount of investment. It was a significant figure but in the context of what it used to cost to maintain the pitch for the winter — we have a different pitch now — Hawk-Eye wasn’t a significant figure. We have never been afraid to spend money to do what is right or best.”

In a perfect world, O’Neill agreed that Thurles is the most likely stadium to be fitted with the technology next, while he stated that the redeveloped stadia in Cork and Belfast should be “configured” to take Hawk-Eye if required.

As for the system’s place in hurling history, O’Neill maintained it has played a significant part, ridding both Tipperary and Kilkenny of any doubt regarding Sunday’s final score.

“Had Hawk-Eye not been there, there would forever be people saying, ‘I saw the ball go over the bar’,” he suggested. “It was a clear-cut ending and the umpire acted really well to call it. He did it with the very first one to verify a point also. That set the tone for the day and I think he was very wise to call for the last one.”

The Laois official indicated that both Kilkenny and Tipperary players are likely to get a cash bonus following the replay, which will probably go towards a holiday fund.

“We talked to them last year and the year before, and a figure was agreed and that will be done,” he said.

“But I don’t think it is about money or what will be divvied up for Tipp and Kilkenny. The significant thing is that they are in the All-Ireland still and we have another great game to come.”