Referees keep close watch on time wasters

The duration of most inter-county football and hurling games is expected to increase from tomorrow’s Allianz Football League openers because of new time-keeping guidelines.

Referees have been instructed to stop their watches for a number of matters such as substitutions, goalkeepers taking frees further up the field, and the use of HawkEye score technology in Croke Park.

In a bid to curb time-wasting, match officials have been told to allow approximately 20 seconds per substitute and the same amount for a player like Stephen Cluxton making his way forward to take a long-range free at goal or 45. About 30 seconds will be added each time HawkEye is called upon.