Gearóid Hegarty fears hurling will suffer if video referee is introduced

'Obviously, there's room for improvement. There's always room for improvement in every sport. But I'd hate for anything drastic to come in. I think it would be a bad call', said the Limerick star

PwC GPA Player of the Month for July in hurling, Gearóid Hegarty of Limerick, with his award at Eyre Square in Galway. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Gearóid Hegarty fears hurling will be damaged if a video referee is introduced to the game.

As John Meyler’s hurling expert advisory group consider changes to the game, the Limerick All-Ireland winner is loath to see the game changed and believes replay reviews would spoil it like they have soccer.

“I might get stick for this, but I don't think there's anything wrong with hurling,” said Hegarty, who was voted as the PwC hurler of the month for July. “I'd hate for us to go down the VAR route. I heard talks about bringing in VAR and all this rubbish – I would hate that.

“I used to be one of the biggest soccer fans ever. I'm a Liverpool fan. I could watch Crystal Palace against Everton on a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon. Since they brought in VAR (Video Assistant Referee), I find it hard to even watch Liverpool matches nowadays. I think it's absolutely ruined the game.

“The spontaneity has gone. Nobody celebrates a goal anymore because they have to wait for the VAR check. I think it has completely ruined the game. It's a brutal watch nowadays. It has slowed everything down. The emotion and the atmosphere haven't gone completely, but they've gone way down because of bringing in this technology.

“I think technology can be used in a good way, but I'd hate for that to come into hurling. First of all, the game is way too fast. Imagine being somebody sitting in a room trying to nitpick all the different things in one hurling match. It's just too fast.” 

Hegarty says the spread of All-Ireland SHC winners in recent years demonstrates the game is in a healthy position. “Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with hurling. I think hurling is in an unbelievable place.

“There have been three different All-Ireland winners over the last three years. Look at how competitive Leinster was this year. Look at how competitive Munster always is.

“Obviously, there's room for improvement. There's always room for improvement in every sport. But I'd hate for anything drastic to come in. I think it would be a bad call.” 

The idea of an All-Ireland B championship for Liam MacCarthy Cup teams eliminated at the provincial stage doesn’t wash with Hegarty either. “From my own point of view, if we were knocked out, I personally wouldn't have any interest in playing in a curtain-raiser.

“I'd love to see the minor final come back as the curtain-raiser to the All-Ireland senior final. I think that was an unbelievable tradition. You might be able to tell me why it stopped – maybe there was a good reason. It went to U17 and younger players, big stage and all that kind of thing.” 

Hegarty’ St Patrick’s were in premier junior action against Caherline on Thursday after losing their opener against Cathal O’Neill’s Crecora-Manister last week.

Turning 32 on Monday, he is already eager to return to pre-season training in November. “I'm already looking forward to going back training and it'll be a couple of months’ time.

“Obviously, we have our club championships to deal with first but when you're in training and you're coming up against these guys in training… I'd be marking the half-back whether it be (Diarmaid) Byrnesy or Kyle (Hayes) or William (O’Donoghue) or Colin Coughlan or any of these guys, you're just being tested to the absolute most, and that's what we're in it for, to test ourselves against the absolute best.”