GAA move to make Hawk-Eye available at all major grounds
HAWK-EYE score detection technology could be rolled out to all major venues for Championship matches in the near future. The GAA is currently investigating the possibility of using a mobile version of the technology, already commonly used in cricket.
For now, the system is only used in Croke Park, where it has been in place since 2013, and was rolled out at Semple Stadium last year.
But GAA director general Páraic Duffy said this week that redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh would also be equipped with the technology, either with a fixed installed system or by use of a mobile alternative.
Cork County Board chiefs had been non-committal regarding Hawk-Eye being installed at their new 45,000 capacity stadium, given the financial investment it would involve.
While no final figure has been revealed, it has been reported that the GAA paid €200,000 to install the system in 2013, outside of ongoing operative costs.
But Duffy is adamant that the €80 million Cork project will come complete with the technology.
‘We are looking at that. I am not an expert on this but Hawk-Eye are developing a mobile version of it which means that you could move it around,’ said Duffy.
‘We will make it available in Páirc Uí Chaoimh either on a permanent basis or on a mobile one. It will certainly be available.’
However, it is unlikely that the GAA will be in a position to avail, just yet, of the mobile technology which would technically mean that all major Championship games at provincial venues could avail of the system.
While Duffy is awaiting a report on that option, it is understood the mobile alternative is still some way from a situation where it can be moved, and installed, from venue to venue in a short space of time, but in the medium term the GAA is confident it could come into play.
Meanwhile, despite Duffy revealing this week that his blueprint for Championship reform will be presented to Congress next month in three separate motions, his proposal to return the All-Ireland qualifiers to an open draw will perish if delegates vote against the introduction of a ‘Super 8’ phase to replace the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
The decision to split the qualifiers into two sections in 2014 was initially proposed to provide a window for the playing of club fixtures but has had no impact other than to remove intrigue from the All-Ireland series.
Since its introduction, there has been no draw required for the All-Ireland quarter-finals, offering preordained and, in many instances, unappealing head-to-heads, not least Kerry’s last-eight clash with Clare last August.
It also robbed the football Championship of its showcase All-Ireland quarter-finals weekend – they have been split over two weekends for the past three years – with Duffy admitting the move to split the qualifiers was a mistake ‘It hasn’t worked,’ he admitted. ‘It was brought in to make fixture-making easier on the counties and the benefits there were very marginal. The disadvantage was that I think it damaged the qualifiers because they took the excitement out of it. It’s been terrible,’ said Duffy, whose reform plan will seek to return the open-draw concept to the qualifiers.
However, Duffy insisted it would be all or nothing, with no provision at Congress to take the vote on reform of the qualifiers to be separated from the proposed change of format in the last-eight phase.
‘If the Championship proposal falls, we’re back to what we were in 2016, in terms of Championship structure.
‘It would have needed someone else to bring a separate motion, nobody has brought that motion but maybe that will encourage them to pass the whole thing,’ added Duffy.
And if delegates vote in favour of a changed format – motions to make extra-time compulsory in drawn games and to move both All-Ireland finals forward by three weeks will be taken separately – it is likely that there will be a ‘hands off’ period, to give the changes a chance to ‘bed in’.
One of the main reasons why the newly formed Club Players’ Association came out in opposition to the reform, despite the possibility of a larger playing window for their members, was the fear that it would close the door on any short-term plans to further address the fixtures issue.
It is expected that the reform motions will come with a stipulation that if passed there will be a defined time period – possibly three years – where they cannot be revisited.
‘That’s a possibility. We’ll look at that,’ confirmed Duffy.
‘Even if you have to wait three years, that’s not bad. At least what you’re trying now, you’re trying something new. It would be better than where you are in 2016. I don’t understand that thing of ‘park the proposal’, I just don’t understand that,’ added Duffy.