IS IT TIME for the advantage rule to be brought into hurling?
Galway boss Anthony Cunningham has thrown it up as a proposal, calling for hurling to take a leaf out of Gaelic football’s book.
The Tribesmen exited the Allianz hurling league at the semi-final stage yesterday. John Power’s second-half goal for Kilkenny was the pivotal score but Galway were left to rue that there was no scope for an advantage rule when Johnny Glynn broke free in the finale before play was called back for a close-range free.
“We were in hard luck there that Johnny Glynn was pulled up there at the finish. There are always going to be close calls but i think that one was very unfair. At that stage of the match where we were looking for the advantage.
“I’m surprised with all the talk of refereeing that (it hasn’t been brought in). It would have helped the referee. I’m not in any way being down on referees but I think the advantage rule Saturday in the All-Ireland U21 semi-finals was excellent.
“The advantage rule helps the referees and helps the game. There were probably one or two chances that could have gone the other way for Kilkenny as well. There is always going to be close calls and we don’t want to talk about referees but it can help referees.”
It was a game of contrasts for Galway as they controlled the opening period before falling away after the break. A failure to convert a plethora of early chances hurt them.
“We failed to take a few chances and Kilkenny were going to come back. there was a fair breeze out there it may not have looked it. It’s a game we could have won and had enough chances. We’d a lot of good play up front as well but we will have to be sharper.
“In the first 10 minutes of the second half we probably lost control there in the middle third and they came strong. That is going to happen against strong opposition you meet at this stage.”
Cunningham was fulsome in his praise of his young players in defence and revealed his hopes that experienced players will come back into the fray for championship.
“You’d have to be happy with Daithi Burke I think he had a tremendous game at centre back. Then his brother Ronan had a really sound game. Joseph Cooney really came of age there with Walter Walsh taken off there. They are going to have to learn that there is bigger days again and we are going to demand that level of performance from those guys every day we go out because they have the ability.”
“Fergal (Moore), Niall Healy and Iarla (Tannian) will come in. Cyril Donnellan, we hope to be back playing club hurling in another two weeks time. They will be fresher and that’s the way you want it. It always goes down to performance in training matches, we put a lot on that.”
Where is there an excuse? He said they did not take their chances.
Always an excuse with Cunningham .. Take ur beating
What a whinge bag.
He’s right about the advantage rule. And the black card.
He’s not making excuses, there should be an advantage rule in hurling.