Willie Barrett: Advantage rule won't mean fewer frees

Hurling’s new advantage rule won’t mean fewer frees, according to Willie Barrett, chairman of the referees appointment committee.

Having been introduced last Saturday, the Division 1 semi-finalists will get their first experience of the new rules in Nowlan Park on Sunday, which also include the one-versus-one penalty and one-versus -five 20 metre frees.

With the advantage rule, referees will now be afforded a five-second window to call back the play should they ascertain the team of the fouled player did not gain from the infringement.

Barrett expects the measure will be a success but warned there might be teething problems as was experienced in football when the rule was introduced last year.

“I would say the advantage has to be used well. The big one will be when a player goes through on goal and whether the opportunity to score a goal presents itself.

“The referee now has the extra few seconds to see if a goal might accrue. If not, he can call back the play for a foul.

“I don’t envisage less frees being given especially when you have situations where there might be four fellas around one player and he can’t make any headway.

“The free puck should be given if it’s the most advantageous decision to the player’s team.

“We have to wait and see how they operate. There will be a huge positive from the advantage rule. Hurling is a fast game and we would hope it will work out as it has done in football.”

Barrett acknowledges hurling referees may be more likely to award a free considering the range from which they may be scored compared to football.

“Hurling referees will be aware free pucks from anything as far as the 70 or 80 yard mark can regularly be scored. I’d say they will be mindful of that and I can’t see them letting everything go for the sake of advantage.

“That would be a negative situation to adopt in matches as we go forward.

“A free for the opportunity of a score is still an advantage. If you have a situation when a team that is two points down with a minute to go you’ll certainly be trying to apply the advantage if they are heading towards goal from say 30 yards out.

“Referees would say over the last few years that they would have applied this new advantage rule if they could have. Now they have a chance.”

The greatest example of that was probably the 2012 All-Ireland final replay when Cyril Donnellan’s goal was disallowed as James McGrath had signalled he had already blown his whistle for a free on the Galway forward.

Barrett also confirmed referees will be vigilant to ensure both penalty takers and goalkeepers don’t impinge on the minimum 20-metre distance between them for the one-versus-one penalty.

“Whether we have penalties this weekend, we’ll have them in future games and the attacker now has the better chance of scoring.

“It must be struck before the 20 metre line and he can bring the ball seven metres back. We’ll be strong in applying the goalie stays on the line. It’s important to get off to a positive start.”