Clock/hooter set to feature in remaining Sam Maguire Cup games

Previous policy stated technology would only apply to broadcasted matches.

ABOUT TIME: The hooter system on the sideline at a game. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

The public clock/hooter is set to be operational in every forthcoming All-Ireland senior football game despite the previous policy it would only be applicable to broadcasted or streamed matches.

The GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) have confirmed to the Irish Examiner that this weekend’s Meath-Cork and Armagh-Derry matches will also be subject to the technology.

The clock/hooter was only in use for televised or streamed provincial matches due to logistical and financial reasons. Last weekend’s two All-Ireland matches which weren’t broadcasted – Mayo v Cavan and Clare v Sligo – didn’t feature the countdown clock or siren either.

In early April, Football Review Committee chairman Jim Gavin explained why Central Council couldn’t apply the technology across the board: "Obviously from an FRC perspective, we’d like to see it everywhere. The harsh reality is that some grounds aren’t ready.

"Central Council are proposing now – voted on by the counties on Monday night – only venues where matches are broadcast or streamed live. That ground will have to be ready."

However, a CCCC spokesperson said they are going to try and have the clock/hooter in place for all of the remaining Sam Maguire Cup games irrespective of whether they are broadcasted or not, subject to hardware personnel availability.

Four of next weekend’s second round All-Ireland group games are not being televised on RTÉ or carried by GAA+ but it is expected they too will feature the clock/hooter.

Of the remaining 31 games in the All-Ireland SFC (Sam Maguire Cup) series, 21 are due to be screened including every game from next month’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals onwards.

As thing stand, televised or streamed Tailteann Cup matches will continue to be the only games played under the clock/hooter but that could change depending on resources.

RTÉ will show football’s second tier championship semi-finals and finals, while GAA+ will stream the final round meeting of Fermanagh-Wexford in Croke Park on June 1 as well as two of the four preliminary quarter-finals on June 7 and two of the quarter-finals on June 14.