No motion for ban on oversized hurleys

The motion calling for a ban on oversized hurleys won’t be on next month’s Congress Clár in Cavan.

Galway club Clarinbridge in 2013 had a motion passed by the county’s hurling committee calling for the use of such hurleys to be banned from scoring.

However, it was ruled out of order, as 2014 wasn’t a playing rules year.

This year permits such proposals from clubs, but Clarinbridge have confirmed they won’t put their recommendation forward. It is understood opposition has convinced its proponents not to reissue the recommendation.

According to rule 4.5, “the bas of a hurley at its widest point shall not be more than 13cm”. The rule is flouted widely by goalkeepers, as well as outfield players, especially free-takers and forwards, who prefer the bigger sweet spot.

Clarinbridge had put forward the proposal in the wake of Anthony Nash’s successful deadball strikes in the 2013 Championship, though Galway’s Colm Callanan has used a similarly large hurley to score long-range frees.

Policing of the rule is certain to be even more of a hot topic this year should two of the Hurling 2020 committee’s proposals be introduced: The one-versus-one penalty and the one-versus-three 20 metre frees. Goalkeepers will likely take to using even larger bas hurleys if it affords them an advantage.

Asked before Christmas about such a possibility, GAA president Liam O’Neill said: “Once you make a rule, it doesn’t matter what sport it is, somebody will push the boundaries. It’s up to us to keep up with.

“You can’t cover everything the first day, but what you have to be is reactive as well as proactive.”