CLARE GOALKEEPER PA Kelly has re-opened the debate surrounding 21-yard frees in hurling, describing the current rules as a “grey area.”
Kelly was at the centre of controversy in the drawn All-Ireland hurling final when he charged off his line to block Anthony Nash’s shot.
Kelly insists that he was entitled to move once Nash touched the ball, but the Cork keeper felt that his opposite number should have stayed in place until the free was struck towards goal, a point he furiously made to referee Brian Gavin at the time.
Credit: RTÉ.ie
“I’ve a strong opinion on that to be honest,” Kelly said. “In my view, once the player touches the ball, the goalie should be allowed attack the ball.
“It’s in play. And look, I took it off the body the last day
I’ll put it to you this way. You can take a free by pulling on the ball on the ground. It’s one strike of the ball. It’s one touch.I started my run on the line. I came out. Would I do again the next day? Who knows.
Gavin later had a word with the Clare defenders before a 21-yard free in the second half, which Nash scored.
But Kelly says the rules need to be changed, particularly if the taker is advancing five or six yards towards goal while lifting the ball as Nash did.
It’s a grey area to be honest with you. Maybe the two of us were in the wrong. He has to be 20 metres away but sure, if you’re 20 metres away from a man hitting a ball on the 13-yard line… it just doesn’t make sense.So I think that rule has to be altered. There has been so much talk of it, something will have to be done.
“You can’t encroach from a penalty. But from a 21.. I don’t know why he said it to me the second time.
“Maybe Anthony Nash had a word with him. He wasn’t too happy that I came off my line.
“Look, it happened. It’s history now. And hopefully the referee won’t give them any more handy 21-yard frees.”
And so let the hurling begin!
It’s a free. When he touches the ball it’s in play. Charge away pa. Why should the opposition be allowed to gain a 6 yard advantage? Can’t believe the ref even approached Kelly the 2nd time round.
Rule is as follows:
For all free pucks, including penalties, the ball may be struck with the hurley in either of two ways:
(a) Lift the ball with the hurley at the first attempt and strike it with the hurley.
(b) Strike the ball on the ground.
If a player taking a free puck or penalty fails
to lift the ball at the first attempt, or fails to strike it with the hurley, he must strike it on the ground without delay. Only when he delays, may a player of either side approach nearer than 20m. except in the case of penalties.
Therefore in the case of (a) above the striking of the ball (and in effect the taken of the free puck/penalty) is a two part process.
Saying the free puck/penalty is taken as soon as the ball is lifted is therefore incorrect.
Consider this – would it be deemed to be acceptable for a player to scoop (lift) a free over the bar in one motion?
All for 2 part process but surely you can’t say that moving 6 or 7 yards in on goal is fair?
That’s all easy to say Colin, but that’s not the rules. So he was right to talk to the goalie, he can only do his job. As for the rule, it has to be changed (maybe force a roll lift for frees and penalties), but that’s for next year.
Does this mean if theres a free 80 yards out players can charge down the feee taker just because the ball is in play?? Pure and utter rubbish!! Keepers should be made stay on their line end of!! The free was given for a reason and they need to face the consequences
Free takers taking frees 80 yards out don’t carry the ball ten yards before striking.. Hell of a difference
there should have been no free in the first place,can i direct you to this video which clears up any doubt about it,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDBNRHt_HZE
As was covered in the media, in the aftermath of the drawn game, it’s the rule governing the allowed distance from striker to goalie that needs an overhaul. I for one, believe that the free taker should not be allowed in excess of 1 metre from the original position of the sliotar. In no circumstance, would I consider it fair for a penalty taker to be allowed to strike this ball from 14 yards out, as in Nash’s case.
There was never any uproar when Canning did it…
DJ Carey was the first I can remember to do it.
Anti Cork bullshit.
And the keeper must remain on his line also??
What a clown, can he not stay on the line like everyone else!
Tell me what keeper in any code stays on his line for a free? Rules not clear. When Nash lifts ball it is in play. Cannot understand fuss about this.
How far is enough so shud de goalie have to stay on de line if the free taker can lift the ball 16yards n reaching the edge of the square because technically he is still in the process of taking the free?? A load of shit u can’t stop someone moving off the line if the free taker is clearly taking advantage of a rule which is out of date!
‘Anti Cork’… That’s a big leap. As for D.J., I would argue that more often than not, he fouled the ball by holding it for too long on the bas while taking a free. And no, that’s not an anti-Kilkenny comment either. I’m interested in making the necessary tweaks to what imo, is the greatest field game in the world.
I don’t mean literally stay on the line but at least hold his position, he is the first keeper I have seen to actually charge down a free and just because he did so he thinks he should be allowed do it all the time
Pa thinks the goalie should be allowed charge but the rule is that he can’t .Just because Pa thinks it dosn’t make it so.
Penalty spot , 30 meters out, one Man in goal, football style, less danger , equal chance for both free taker and goalie, equally if not more entertaining for spectators , problem solved..
Listen when Kelly ran off his line he only met Nash half way cos Nash rose the ball goal ward by about six or seven yards. Two of one and half a dozen of another. End of.
There’s nothing in the rules that says Nash can’t do that. As has been pointed out already, the free can be a two strike process, the rules state the keeper must remain on his line.
Maybe so but by the same rule if I was skillful enough are you telling me I could rise a ball in fifteen or sixteen yards an strike it unhinged at a goalie stuck to his line. Bollox. Sort the rules out. If Nash rose it like everyone else the ball wouldn’t have been in the air half an hr an Kelly wouldn’t have had time to run out and meet him !!!
There’s nothing in the rules that say you couldn’t do that. I agree the rules need to be changed, but they’re not going to before Saturday night.
Also, Anthony Nash is not the only player that does this, Joe Canning does it, Eoin Kelly does it, Christ! DJ Carey used to do it! Granted, they don’t hit the ball as hard as Nash does, but it’s not just him.
If thats the case re- rush at a free why doesnt it happen to 65 s and other frees, no encroaching prob from the taker and other players to the freetaker would sort this out and handy 21 yard frees!! feck off ye were hangin out of em for a few of the 4 around the 21 and the penalty -ok one shouldnt b given but if football ref did the hurling with the extra time played he wouldve blown up n cork be the all ireland winners now –so all to play for again ..
I honestly cannot believe what I am reading, people actually appear to think that Nash is doing something wrong! That’s madness! Anybody that has ever played hurling will tell you that what he is doing is very difficult, a fabulous piece of skill.
In EVERY sport the attacking team is given every advantage when awarded a penalty, it is supposed the be a definite goal-scoring opportunity. Anthony Nash should be applauded for developing a particularly skilful penalty/21 yard free technique. The rules correctly forbid the defence from encroaching upon the free taker – in this case Kelly should not have touched the ball on the ground with his hand in the small square.
Nash has brought penalty/21 yard free taking to a new level, it is up to opposing defences to not give him the opportunity to utilise his skill by not fouling the forwards.
He didn’t touch ball on ground. Hence should not have been a free.
The ball is not in play when Nash lifts it, even if Pa Kelly believes so. He’s Davy’s man alright with his ‘handy frees’ comment. I’m surprised he didn’t mention ‘small fish’ too. The skill levels required by Nash to make perfect contact with his efforts on goal should be lauded, not ridiculed.