Kilkenny legend DJ Carey warns of ‘play-acting’ creeping into hurling

Nine-time All-Star winner DJ Carey says he thinks a culture of “play-acting” is creeping into hurling and that GAA officials have destroyed the art of penalty taking.

Carey admitted he was dismayed to see inter-county hurlers falling to the ground feigning injury in an attempt to con referees, but that cynical play still had to be a part of the game.

“At the moment you have fellas being red carded for tips across helmets. And then a guy is going down for no reason other than the fact he got a flick on a face guard,” said Carey.

“Unfortunately now, in my opinion, you are now seeing a bit of play-acting coming into the game.

“A belt on the helmet, the fella is going down and he’s staying down and he’s not particularly hurt. That’s what I don’t like as part of the game,” said Carey, who won five All-Irelands with Kilkenny in a 17-year inter-county career.

And the Young Irelands club man also said that the advantage has now been taken from attacking players with the new penalty rules, meaning the concession of a penalty is the smart defensive play. Carey said he had no problem with defenders being cynical, but that there had to be a suitable punishment for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

“Take a fella down if you have to in the penalty area, because you can’t step aside and you shouldn’t have to. But on the other side, don’t take the advantage away from the forward or whoever is going to be hitting that penalty.

“In my opinion the powers that be have ruined penalty-taking. It should be an old style. It’s clear that crossing the line is in the minds of penalty-takers now.

“And even one versus one, I don’t like it. I see a danger element coming into it too especially at underage when you have so many lads charging in on a goalkeeper.

“We saw two penalties in the Kilkenny/ Clare game at Nowlan Park from two very good penalty takers and we saw nothing out of it.

“At the moment it’s a huge advantage to actually give away a penalty. Clear cut goal chances now... give away a penalty,” he said.