Stepping up: Love them or hate them, penalty shootouts are here to stay

The GAA have settled on penalties and the biggest challenge for everyone now is to adjust to that culture change the practice creates

Limerick goalkeeper Donal O'Sullivan celebrates after Cian O'Dea of Clare missed his penalty in the Munster SFC quarter-final penalty shoot-out at Cusack Park in Ennis last month. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

When referee Luke Pearce blew the final whistle after extra-time in Saturday’s Munster-Toulouse Champions Cup quarter-final, the tension was shot through with confusion. Everybody was aware that a penalty competition was going to decide the tie but not everyone was sure of the format.

BT Sport tried to inform the viewers of what was about to happen next, displaying a graphic with yellow markers to show how three different kickers were to take six kicks from different areas of the pitch. The graphic also included a block of text, 78 words, outlining the protocol, especially if the competition went to sudden death.