GAA Congress rejects Tipp motion to tackle thrown hand-passes

Burns declare Gaelic football “the biggest obstacle” to developing hurling
GAA Congress rejects Tipp motion to tackle thrown hand-passes

Conor O’Donovan’s proposal to curb thrown hand-passes in hurling by preventing the sliotar from being passed from the holding hand failed at GAA Congress on Saturday morning. Pic: ©INPHO/Leah Scholes.

Conor O’Donovan’s proposal to curb thrown hand-passes in hurling by preventing the sliotar from being passed from the holding hand failed at GAA Congress on Saturday morning, receiving 32.4% of delegates’ support.

The former Tipperary full-back made a passionate plea to adopt the proposal and tackle the breaches of the rule in hurling.

However, hurling development committee chairman Terry Reilly claimed the amendment would slow down the game and said the body opposed the motion, a stance supported by the standing playing rules group.

Cork chairman Patrick Horgan described thrown hand-passes as “a scourge on hurling” and called for a rule change to be trialled. However, he also suggested to Tipperary to withdraw the motion and refer it a committee.

Offaly Central Council delegate Michael Duignan acknowledged throwing of the sliotar exists in hurling but described the Tipperary motion as impractical.

O’Donovan countered Duignan’s claim that it would lead to more rucks and played a video of examples of how the ball could be transferred from the other hand or both hands by first bouncing it on the hurley.

Later, Wexford’s 1996 All-Ireland SHC winning manager Liam Griffin withdrew his call for all dual clubs to establish hurling teams under the “Go Games” model from U7 to U10.

Following discussions with the GAA’s national hurling development committee (HDC), Griffin was satisfied they can take the lead in ensuring more children are given the opportunity to play hurling.

“We will embrace the spirit of that motion,” said HDC chairman Terry Reilly.

GAA president Jarlath Burns added that clubs who have two or more adult football teams should be doing more for hurling.

“We all have to move out of our comfort zone,” he declared and added, “The single biggest obstacle to developing hurling is Gaelic football. That’s it. We have to own up to that, all of us, and Gaelic football attitudes.

“Liam Griffin, I would have voted for that motion today. Thank you so much for entering into entering into talks with the hurling development committee.”

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