DUBLIN COUNTY BOARD secretary John Costello thinks the GAA should consider bringing the black card to hurling.
The black card was introduced to football last year to combat cynical fouls and it seemed to be a successful deterrent against foul play as scoring rates went up.
Costello thinks people involved with hurling should consider whether a similar rule in the sport would be a benefit.
“After the recent relentless trend of All-Ireland hurling final classics, it may strike you as
churlish to even pose the question,” Costello said in his annual report.
Well, I’m not saying hurling definitely needs a black card but the notion shouldn’t be completely laughed out of court either. Games evolve and the rule book needs to keep pace with change, especially where cynicism lurks, unimpeded.
“And don’t tell me the mindset of a hurler is intrinsically different to that of a footballer. The elite are, by instinct, winners. They hate losing and will do what it takes to avoid such a fate – especially if there is no proper deterrent.”
Costello also noted the different reaction received by Tyrone footballer Sean Cavanagh for his cynical foul in the 2013 All-Ireland quarter-final and a hurler who did the same thing in a ‘high profile hurling match last summer’.
He thinks that despite the more tempered backlash the hurler received for a similar foul, a black card would be a good way of eradicating those sorts of incidents from hurling.
“Seán Cavanagh was accorded pariah status by a certain pundit and his foul conflated into a symbol of the win-at-all-costs attitude afflicting modern football,” Costello said.
“Yet there was only a minor commotion – no more – over the despairing yet every-bit-as-intentional infraction in the hurling game. The above snapshot is just one example of where hurling could actually benefit from a black card deterrent – even more so if the current penalty rule isn’t amended to tilt the balance back in favour of the attacking team, instead of encouraging the fouler.”
Costello also advocated hurling adopting the advantage rule that was brought into football.
First published at 07.00
A change to the penalty system (only the goalkeeper allowed on the line) would be much more beneficial than a black card. Hurling is the fastest field sport in the world, why put that in danger?
The hurling refs have issued some terrible red and yellow card in the last few championships, giving them another card to flash around isn’t going to improve things. They’ll use them just to justify having them.
Am I missing something here? I didn’t realise there is an issue with the amount of scoring in Hurling.
All Ireland Final 3-22 to 1-28
All Ireland Final replay 2-17 to 2-14
I agree that the penalty situation should be addressed and fixed. Other than that leave hurling alone!
If anything the black card rule should be removed from Football, from my experience it’s use at club level has been a farce!!
This is what everyone was afraid of…
Leave the black card out of hurling as the last 2 all irelands have proved theres no better game in the world . The black card was introduced to stop football going backwards with the ultra defensive systems ,cynical fouling & blocking off the ball. Theres cynical fouling in hurling but nowhere on the scale that there was in football .the speed of hurling means cynical fouling is minimal compared to what was going on in football. The only changes needed are as the other lads have commented on are a proper advantage rule, a clamp down on the use of the spare hand & the penalty rule but id like to see 2 men on the line .the way some of the free takers strike a ball 1 man on the line would make it nearly impossible for any goalie to save it
The black card & the improved advantage rule would greatly improve hurling. Both these rules award the skilful player the advantage. The black card is used to punish deliberate cynical fouling. Under no circumstance would punishing this with a black card be negative. Deliberate cynical fouling is the elephant in the room at senior inter county level hurling. The advantage rule would allow the skilful player to prosper in hurling. The player would know that they could try to continue knowing that they would be awarded a foul if they gained no advantage. Hopefully we can see the game of hurling benefit just like football did with these rule changes.
I agree the penalty system needs serious reform. A penalty is no longer an advantage to any team denied a clear goal scoring opportunity when forced to strike from behind the 20metre line. There is an advantage rule in hurling but is not utilised by many properly by referees. It does allow the referee the opportunity to let play to continue but stops short of allowing refs to bring play back for the original foul if no advantage accrues. If this was addressed as well as the extortionate ammount of pulling with the free hand that goes unpunished hurling will continue to be the fastest and greatest sport on the planet……….. And the best game to referee!!
Yes John it should be laughed at!!
Honestly don’t see the correlation between a rule that works in football and how it should and could work in hurling. I know they are both under the gaa banner , but let’s be honest , they are world apart at present. Hurling is as fast paced as ever , yes there is fouling both ordinary and cynical , but football is so much slower and the types of tackles are a greater risk of a foul. Ultimately leave hurling alone , football is no better to watch since the black card was introduced and to further the issue with it the refs have no clue about when it should be used !
What incident is he on about? I know there was plenty just can’t think which one he is on about. Why not introduce it, it would stop the cynical fouling anyway.