HOW TO GET A HEAD IN HATS!
EOIN MURPHY reckons the new rule on players taking off their helmets will be difficult to police.
GAA chiefs have reacted to what they see as an issue with players attempting to slow down the game and break opposition momentum by removing their helmets.
The new rule states that if you take your helmet off you have to go off the field of play.
Goalkeepers in particular have had the finger pointed at them for time wasting in big games.
“I didn’t hear about this,” said Kilkenny number one Murphy (33).
“Look, there’s gamesmanship in every part of the game to be honest with you.
“If you’ve a corner back man marking you, and I’m playing you off the ball that’s all part of it as well and you can bring in a rule for that then potentially.
“It’s just another thing for refs and umpires to be keeping an eye on and another thing for them potentially to make a mistake in, that could be game changing.
“Ultimately, we don’t want the final decision or the end result to be a final decision by an official and I think it will make it much more difficult for them.”
Football has had a new review committee to examine the game, and Murphy feels hurling should have similar.
“There are some areas maybe they can look at to improve upon it,” said the Glenmore man.
“But definitely, just the hand-pass one and it’s been brought up for years, is such a difficult one.
“Because if you have a player who is in a tackle and on the ground, how in the name of god is he going to switch his hands pretty much on his knees or on his back?
“It’s next to impossible and if you have a decision in the last couple of minutes in an All-ireland final or whatever and that rule has been brought in, the referee is doing his job and he’ll be lambasted for blowing the whistle.
“I just think it’s going to be extremely difficult to manage to be honest. Should there be a committee?
“Yeah, there probably should be just to review various other things. I know mentioning the helmet again, I just think how you police that is going to be really hard.”