ANTHONY DALY HAS hit out at the high number of frees that were awarded in some of the hurling league games at the weekend, saying it was “very frustrating” to watch.
There were 16 cards distributed in the Division 1 Group B clash between Dublin and Wexford at Croke Park on Saturday, including three red cards. The fans seemed to be annoyed by the volume of frees awarded by referee Johnny Murphy, which disrupted the flow of the game.
“I was in Croke Park and the sense of frustration around the ground that the fantastic game we have in hurling, the fantastic sport everyone will acknowledge was just stop-start, [the game] was constantly blown,” Daly began while speaking on RTÉ’s Allianz League Sunday.
Daly, who was joined by Derek McGrath, went on to mention the number of frees that were called during Limerick’s two-point victory over Cork on Sunday, where Aaron Gillane and Patrick Horgan scored a combined 0-26 from placed balls.
“92 frees in the best two surfaces in the country — Croke Park and Páirc Uí Chaoimh between 50 and 42. Do we want that?
People are saying the rules have to be applied the very same as in football. It’s not the same game as football, it’s a different game.
“If I foul Derek on the half-line in football, Derek will take a quick punt pass to somebody near him. If it’s hurling, you’ll bring Patrick Horgan back 100 yards.”
"It's not the same game as football - it's a different game" - @DaloAnto on what is great about hurling #AllianzLeagueSunday #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/70AA6QEUOp
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 24, 2020
When asked if frees should be ignored to promote more movement in hurling, the Clare legend responded:
“You don’t ignore [it] but there’s a medium. You have to allow somewhere for that balance where you keep law and order and let the game flow. We have to have that. And the sense of frustration… you heard Kieran Kingston use it as a bit of a flippant remark about 20 frees and they’re not supposed to be the toughest team in Ireland.
No flow to the game, very frustrating.
“We all didn’t have great games in Croke Park, I’m not blaming any particular official. What instruction are they being given [is what] I’m wondering.”
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Huge achievement for Touhy. A win tomorrow against Port, will put them 2nd on the ladder. At the way he’s playing, hes in line to make the All-Australian team this season.
@John Paul: I reckon he will go past the 246 total of the Legend Jim Stynes,he’s been an outstanding player for the Cars this year and he’s in their leadership group for a reason.
@John Paul: no Huge achievement for Tuohy. Why does everyone misspell this. He’s earned the correct spelling. Fair play.
@Bunny Johnson: Oh shut up complaining
Stynes is an AFL legend, very highly regarded over here. Was a gentleman too , done great work with the GAA and irish communities over here. Touhy is doing very well for himself, has adapted well and is a genuinely great player.
@rocks0769: agreed. Anyone who hasn’t seen it the RTÉ Documentary on Jim Stynes is an incredibly powerful watch. It’s on YouTube “Every Heart Beats True: The Jim Stynes Story”
@rocks0769: Tuohy. Again, why does everyone misspell this.
@5☆Fily: cheers, I haven’t seen that. Will look it up tonight.
Dont follow AFL a great deal, but i assume it is very achievable for Touhy to break Stynes’ record. Is that the case?
@Gareth Ward: Big ask, but it’s doable.
@Gareth Ward: Tuohy not Touhy.
Jim styles ????! Jim Stynes im guessing is who youre trying to write about ?!