CLARE MANAGER DAVY FITZGERALD believes that the GAA must deal with Anthony Nash style frees and prevent free-takers from gaining metres when striking the ball.
Speaking after his side’s Allianz National League Division 1A win over Kilkenny, the former goalkeeper says a change has to happen when Congress meets to discuss the matter.
“There’s no if, and or buts, it’s about safety, one hundred per cent.
“If you had a son inside in goals and he gets that from 12 or 13 yards out into the throat or any part of the lower body, that’s going to do damage.
“There has to be common sense, nothing else and I mean this, please just don’t do what counties want you to do, vote for common sense and do the right thing, that’s all I say. It’s a no-brainer this one.”
The 42-year old drew on his own experience to explain just what a disadvantage it is for defenders and goalkeepers when they have to face a player who can advance the sliotar from the spot of the free.
“I’m telling you, from inside in goals, there are some balls that you don’t even see and if they hit you from 12 or 13 yards, you haven’t a hope, just haven’t a hope.
“Because we could all work on a style like that and get our free-takers to end up on the 13; we can all work on that, but I don’t want to work on it, I really don’t.”
However, Fitzgerald hopes that the GAA don’t heed Brian Cody’s calls to remove all cards from hurling, especially in relation punishing cynical fouls.
“Let’s be straight about this, if something is cynical, it has to be dealt with, yellow or red.
“Could I give out to Brian Gavin (referee for Clare’s game with Kilkenny) for giving Brendan Bugler a yellow card today? I couldn’t because it was a yellow card and it needed to be dealt with.
“If they are out there, they need to be dealt with, end of story with a yellow or red. Let’s be intelligent, we don’t need to send off fellas willy nilly, that’s all I’ll say.
“Just if it’s very bad, the person goes, end of story and let’s enjoy our game of hurling the way it is going, I think that’s important.”
Additional reporting from Eoin Brennan.
Not really fair when you remember that Sligo were kicked out of the championship last year for the same reasons
@Tom McBride: totally agree.
@Tom McBride: nobody cares about lesser teams. It’s all about the big few.
@Homes: Absolutely, no way would any teams outside of Div 1 or 2 have a game rescheduled for the same. Nonsense.
@Homes: Tyrone hardly in the “big few” these days are they??
Can you imagine the sledging that will go on. The Tyrone backs sneezing on top of the kerry forwards etc
@James Beattie: lol. Didn’t think of that. Hilarious haha
Up Kerry!
Would the Tyrone team not be vaccinated yet?
@Gerard Browne: can still have covid
@John O Reilly: I know that but if everybody is vaccinated there’s no need to quarantine?
@Gerard Browne: still have to isolate even if fully vaccinated!
@Darren Mullins: if positive yes but not if a close contact as you become a casual contact if vaccinated or is it different in the UK?
@Darren Mullins: Makes the point of getting the vaccine pretty pointless so
@Gerard Browne: with the vaccine you only get a milder dose of covid
@Gerard Browne: If you call significantly reducing your chances of death or serious illness then ya, pointless
Tyrone should have been thrown out
Good call. Even though I have to do a week of late shifts to get Sunday off!
Sligo couldn’t field a team and were punished , Tyrone should be out of the all Ireland series . Broke covid rules kick them out
@Greg: they didnt break any covid rules. Cork u20s were given a similar postponent this season for the same reason.
@Kieran Lynch: where did they celebrate after Ulster Final?
Rte just announced it being postponed for a week. Final moves to September 4th.
@Kieran Campbell: Saturday???
@John McCabe: Yeah Sat 4th Sept. Most likely a 6:30-7pm kick off too, so they can accommodate for the Ireland vs Azerbaijan game in Lansdowne which kicks off at 5 bells on Saturday as well.
@Ultan Corcoran: I believe the All Ireland Final will have a ‘throw in’, and the other match at the Aviva will have a’kick off’
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
This bl00dy virus has stopped being a joke when it interferes with GAA all ireland.