GAA: 'Hawk-eye' will not be used in club finals

The GAA has rubbished a newspaper report that claimed that score detection technology will be trialled in the All-Ireland Club finals this year.

The article suggested that the 'Hawk-Eye' technology would be used on an experimental basis for the St Patrick's Day deciders.

It was reported that Hawk-Eye's inventor Paul Hawkins flew to Dublin recently with a view to setting up the technology in time to showcase and possibly use for the club finals on March 17.

"We've sent Paul Hawkins over to Ireland and he's carrying out a reccie of Croke Park to make sure that when all the equipment goes in there, everything will work when we eventually turn up to install," explained operations director Steve Carter.

"As I understand it, the plan is to install the systems in Croke Park for a period of about three weeks while we test the systems, fine tune them and make sure it will meet the unique demands that Gaelic games - especially hurling - place upon our technology."

However, the GAA today say that they are continuing to conduct a feasibility study into the implementation of the goal-line technology.

The statement read: "The GAA can confirm that at the December 11 meeting of Coiste Bainistí, a full feasibility study on the possible use of score detection technology was sanctioned and this is expected to be completed before May.

"It was not envisaged at any stage that any such system would be used for the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club finals in March or for games in the 2011 season and reports to the contrary are inaccurate.

"The roll-out of the feasibility study will continue in the months ahead and no final decision will be taken on its possible use before further discussion at Coiste Bainistí and Ard Chomhairle."