Red and Yellow cards

zetecescort

Eddie Keher and now Brian Cody have both called for the removal of cards from hurling. I always thought they were only a visual aid for players and fans to avoid Charlie Redmond type situations.

surely a challenge that deserves a booking or sending off will get it, regardless of whether the ref waves a card.

I'm not having a go at Kilkenny as Corks Patrick Horgan was harshly sent off also last year but are they still sour over the Shefflin sending off.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2014/0210/503528-cody-calls-for-no-cards-in-hurling/

vermin99

Be hard to implement , should keep the reds for serious situations l, but the physicality is definitely dropping in hurling

vermin99

Be hard to implement , should keep the reds for serious situations l, but the physicality is definitely dropping in hurling

zetecescort

vermin99 wrote: »

Be hard to implement , should keep the reds for serious situations l, but the physicality is definitely dropping in hurling

and would you think the lack of physicality is a good thing? having seen last years championship I'd like it to continue as it is.

keane2097

I don't see what the difference would be if they removed cards, I expect Cody hasn't explained what he means very well here.

Grats

Now before anybody gets overly abusive consider this article ex Irish Examiner -

Five years ago, Glen Rovers’ Christy Ring Jnr’s motion received two-third majority support at Cork’s convention, but was ruled out of order at Congress as the original wording was altered.

As 2015 is a playing rules year, Ring Jnr has confirmed he will again be putting forward the motion, having been buoyed by Kilkenny legend Eddie Keher’s support for the eradication of cards from the game.

Keher recently delivered a document to GAA president Liam O’Neill outlining his opposition to the cards system and proposal to return to the pre-1999 mechanism of tickings and sendings off.

Much in line with Keher’s thinking, Ring Jnr believes cards have contributed to bad judgement calls by referees. He is concerned at how some genuine attempts to play the ball have been upgraded as fouls in the rulebook. Where once a mistimed shoulder charge was a technical offence meriting a free puck, it is now deemed rough play.

He argues a free is a greater penalty in hurling than in football — “This is due to the greater scoring range in hurling and a player is less likely to commit a deliberate foul, notwithstanding the card system.”

Ring Jnr doesn’t believe the rules that currently govern the game reflect it. “The skills of football are not penalised. Nobody would penalise you for kicking or catching the ball. The use of the hurley is an art and it comes down to split second timing. Pulling and doubling of the ball is a skill yet it can be considered a yellow card if it’s late and that’s down to the pressure being put on referees.

“The basic skills of the game have been outlawed. In my opinion, cards were the worst thing that came into Gaelic games.”

Ring Jnr also feels cards, particularly yellow, have held up the free-flowing spectacle of hurling. “The situation is being exploited by players falling down and feigning injury as a method to get frees and opponents booked. The phenomenon is even being adopted by certain teams. This was never part of the culture of Gaelic games.”

RGS

idiotic suggestion if he is suggesting no player deserves to be sent off or booked for foul play. thats a charter for the hatchet man to return to the game.

Is cody worried that the younger teams will have too much speed and skill for his aging team.

denishurley

I'm the same, surely the rules will remain unchanged and it just means that people will be more confused?

vermin99

zetecescort wrote: »

and would you think the lack of physicality is a good thing? having seen last years championship I'd like it to continue as it is.

No , physicality is partand parcel with the game, but its acontact sport and the gaa have gone to town om all these rules.......maybe the cards should remain but a review of the rules should be brought forward

randd1

RGS wrote: »

idiotic suggestion if he is suggesting no player deserves to be sent off or booked for foul play. thats a charter for the hatchet man to return to the game.

Is cody worried that the younger teams will have too much speed and skill for his aging team.

I'd doubt it seeing as most of the Kilkenny panel are in their 20's, with 5/6 players (albeit top quality players) in their 30's.

And I would doubt that a manager of a side that has won 2 out of the last 3 All-Irelands, that are going for 3 leagues in a row and have arguably the strongest panel out there is going to be worried about the age of his team, especially when you consider that the aging team/old legs argument has been bandied around since before the 2009 final against Tipp.

And Kilkenny were never the fastest side anyway, they won their AI's on working harder, good organisation, a strong panel and having more skill and better first touch than anyone else out there. I see nothing that has changed in that regard if they have a fully fit side.

And for all this talk of no young lads coming through like there is in some quarters, Clare may have won 3 AI's from 5 at U21 but its forgotten that Kilkenny were in two of those finals, Kilkenny have a better record of trophy winning at minor than anyone over the past 5/6 years or so, and their school sides have been in the final for the last four years running, winning two.

And players tend to break through onto the Kilkenny side in their mid 20's rather than been drafted straight in like other counties. Keiran Joyce, Tyrrell, Brian Hogan, Michael Fennelly, Michael Rice, didn't get into the side until their mid-20's, while the likes of Richie Hogan, Richie Power, Paul Murphy, Eoin Larkin, TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly didn't become regulars until they were out of U21.

There's plenty of good young hurlers in Kilkenny to keep them challenging for Liam for a good few years yet.

keeponhurling

This is quite shocking, no way to punish lads for dirty play?

It would kill the game, drive lads away.
I know helmets are obligatory now, but a Hurley across the fingers, legs, chest etc. Is very dangerous.

What next, no frees?

To say there is no dirt in the game is incredible. Strange he is saying this after last years championshi where skill levels really came to the fore

lukin

This is typical Cody, he's been banging this drum for years and it's getting boring. He was even saying stuff like this when KK were winning the AI every single year. Now that they haven't won it for one year he has got even worse.
Just because he NEVER gives any frees when he refs KK training matches (fact) he thinks everyone else should follow suit. Listen Brian rules are there to protect players. You don't believe in that but rules are there for everybody, not just for you so shut it and get on with it.

deadybai

I think what he meant was that instead of cards the referee would have full authority. For instance the ref could ask a player to leave the field of play if he is constantly fouling or tries to break somebody legs. There is nothing worse then a player getting sent off for two silly fouls. A red card in hurling changes the game for the worse. I'd no that id rather beat a full strength opponent then one with a man down.

Kkid

Have to admit a lot of people have jumped on Cody from reading or listening to a small part of the interview.
Cody pointed out that the speed and toughness is going from the game because of Yellow cards being handed out for very little these days.

I personally watched the 2009, 2011 and 2012 games vs Tipp over the past week and the difference in how the games were refereed is a disgrace. Lads being booked for tapping a players hand (not pulling or taking a swipe), this happens SO often and only on referee calls it it frustrates and causes friction. This only causes more issues in the long run for the referee panels etc. By dismissing cards it allows referees to use their discretion. Did McGrath have to send off Horgan or Kelly have to send off shefflin. If they were able to use more discretion these mistakes would be reduced is Cody’s idea.

The_Kew_Tour

So you can break a guys ribs and legs and not get sent off?

ok.....

Kkid

No! Did you read what I wrote, use discretion. A Player does not need to be booked for silly tackles that are mistimed if not dangerous. He's advocating that players will be allowed to get away with GBH, simply saying that football and Hurling are completely different and that its rare players get injured in Hurling, that said the worst injury to come in an intercounty match over the past few years was vs Tipp when Padraic Maher stayed on the pitch for a wild tackle....

Backup that point now Kew Tour?

The_Kew_Tour

Kkid wrote: »

No! Did you read what I wrote, use discretion. A Player does not need to be booked for silly tackles that are mistimed if not dangerous. He's advocating that players will be allowed to get away with GBH, simply saying that football and Hurling are completely different and that its rare players get injured in Hurling, that said the worst injury to come in an intercounty match over the past few years was vs Tipp when Padraic Maher stayed on the pitch for a wild tackle....

Backup that point now Kew Tour?

I didnt read what you wrote cause I wasnt ****ing replying to you in first place

Kkid

Apologies

adrian522

My God, wish people would read what is being suggested rather than jumping on their various bandwagons.

Players still got their names taken and still got sent off before the invention of yellow and red cards.

hurling_lad

Kkid wrote: »

Have to admit a lot of people have jumped on Cody from reading or listening to a small part of the interview.
Cody pointed out that the speed and toughness is going from the game because of Yellow cards being handed out for very little these days.

I personally watched the 2009, 2011 and 2012 games vs Tipp over the past week and the difference in how the games were refereed is a disgrace. Lads being booked for tapping a players hand (not pulling or taking a swipe), this happens SO often and only on referee calls it it frustrates and causes friction. This only causes more issues in the long run for the referee panels etc. By dismissing cards it allows referees to use their discretion. Did McGrath have to send off Horgan or Kelly have to send off shefflin. If they were able to use more discretion these mistakes would be reduced is Cody’s idea.

What does hand-tapping add to the game of hurling either as a spectacle or as a game to play? Why should it be tolerated?

The case of the Shefflin yellow-card being rescinded was one of the most laughable episodes in GAA administration circles in the last few years. It was done for purely theatrical reasons.

Kkid

hurling_lad, it doesn't add to the game but as an example to see that happening in a game and its a yellow card and to see the same referee lets go a blatant foul by Shane O'Neill just causes aggrevation. We all know that a swing across the hand is illegal and can hurt a player but a tap on the hand is nothing compared to what goes on during some other games. Its the silly yellows that I find frustrating more than others, and if a referee was allowed use his discretion more players would respect the referee than if he flashed a yellow at any little incident.

It was laughable I'll wholeheartedly agree with you, but not as laughable as the fact that the 2 yellows were given in the 1st place.

Concannon7

So players would still get a warning and could be still sent off. It would basically be the same thing except no cards would be waved in the air. I don't see the point of changing it as is. The cards or not the problem, if anything the GAA need to tighten up the rule book on what is or is not a foul. That would be a more of a help.

fearruanua

I just get what the big hullabaloo is about. Players always got booked and sent off. The cards just represent a booking or a sending off. What difference would it make

Kkid

Yes Galway_mad_bhoy it would still result in warnings and sendings off, but the issue is that some rules are too clearly defined. As an example, do you think Pat Horgan’s “tackle” was a red. If you do you are aying that any player who touches an opponents helmet should be sent off, correct?
If you say no you believe that an accidental tap is different that a player pulling on a helmet (ala Benny Dunne). You are saying that common sense should be shown, correct?

Now if cards are not in place James McGrath can look at that and say okay I’ve been told I can use discretion, he tapped his helmet with no intent, I can warn hime and basically say “okay this is your last chance one more bad foul and you are gone.

The abolision of cards would serve as a chance for referees to use that common sense and sense of knowledge they’ve built from years of watching, refereeing and playing the beautiful game.

hurling_lad

Kkid wrote: »

hurling_lad, it doesn't add to the game but as an example to see that happening in a game and its a yellow card and to see the same referee lets go a blatant foul by Shane O'Neill just causes aggrevation. We all know that a swing across the hand is illegal and can hurt a player but a tap on the hand is nothing compared to what goes on during some other games. Its the silly yellows that I find frustrating more than others, and if a referee was allowed use his discretion more players would respect the referee than if he flashed a yellow at any little incident.

It was laughable I'll wholeheartedly agree with you, but not as laughable as the fact that the 2 yellows were given in the 1st place.

The best way to stop players from getting yellow cards for hand-tapping is for players to stop doing it and yellow cards can only encourage this. Like you said, it adds nothing to the game.

A referee giving a yellow card for an offence he does see has nothing whatsoever to do with a referee not giving a red card for an offence which he doesn't see. I'd fully agree that O'Neill got off lightly for the incident to which you're referring, but two (unrelated) wrongs don't make a right.

Don't forget that only one of Shefflin's yellows (crucially imo, the first one) was rescinded, so they weren't both laughable.

cnoc

RGS wrote: »

idiotic suggestion if he is suggesting no player deserves to be sent off or booked for foul play. thats a charter for the hatchet man to return to the game.

Is cody worried that the younger teams will have too much speed and skill for his aging team.

---

B. Cody probably realizes that KK cannot cope with the wonderful type of open, fast hurling in last year's championship. He wants and expects KK to win their matches by physicality alone.

Kkid

Its my opinion that none of the reds in question, Shefflin, O’Dwyer or Horgans tackles should have resulted in yellow cards. Yellow cards are over complicated and by removing the yellow and red cards referees common sense can be used. Tapping a player on the hand goes unpunished by every referee bar one, why? Do you really think it takes from the game aat all, I would argue it does when this referee blows up and wastes time booking an opponent for something so miniscule.

Kkid

cnoc - so there was no Physicality in the all Ireland final? Physicality is in every game, its being reduced by men who don’t know the game. I spoke to a former limerick great recently who said “They’ll turn the game into a non contact sport soon if we are not careful.
There is plenty of Physicality but dirt and physicality is different and every real hurling fan knows the difference.

hurling_lad

Kkid wrote: »

Its my opinion that none of the reds in question, Shefflin, O’Dwyer or Horgans tackles should have resulted in yellow cards. Yellow cards are over complicated and by removing the yellow and red cards referees common sense can be used. Tapping a player on the hand goes unpunished by every referee bar one, why? Do you really think it takes from the game aat all, I would argue it does when this referee blows up and wastes time booking an opponent for something so miniscule.

I certainly would argue that it takes from the game (it's about as sneaky a foul as they come) and perhaps if more referees actually applied the rules, then we wouldn't see it anymore.

keane2097

Kkid wrote: »

Cody pointed out that the speed and toughness is going from the game because of Yellow cards being handed out for very little these days.

Are the speed and toughness really going out of the game? I must have imagine watching the most exhilarating Championship of my lifetime last year.

cnoc

Kkid wrote: »

cnoc - so there was no Physicality in the all Ireland final? Physicality is in every game, its being reduced by men who don’t know the game. I spoke to a former limerick great recently who said “They’ll turn the game into a non contact sport soon if we are not careful.
There is plenty of Physicality but dirt and physicality is different and every real hurling fan knows the difference.

I am well aware that physicality is part and parcel of the game. What I did say in my earlier post re physicality was that KK would expect by physicality alone.

Kkid

So no skill was involved in Kilkenny winning all Irelands in 2006, 2007, 2008 2009, 2011, 2012? You need to differentiate between dirt and physicality. There is very little dirt in 99% of games so booking players for tackles that are not dirty is ruining the game.

cnoc

I am not doubting KKs skill at all - they have it in abundance. Who do you think will be the more physical team when they play Care this coming Sunday?

Kkid

I would say cnoc that Kilkenny will more than likely be the more physical, but I would suggest if we beat them our physicality will not be what won the game merely our better skills coming to the fore on the day, likewise if we are beaten, Clare will have used their skills more wisely on the day. What you are saying is that Kilkenny use Physicality alone to win games, maybe I am missing the point you are making (sorry)?

cnoc

Physicality is one of their main tactics - that is my main point. I am not getting in to an argument with you. KK have their own style of hurling and so be it.

Kkid

not trying to start an arguement, its always hard to guage tone when typing. I just don't agree with having hurling played where you are afraid to make a tackle in case you get a soft card or worse sending off....

keane2097

Kkid wrote: »

not trying to start an arguement, its always hard to guage tone when typing. I just don't agree with having hurling played where you are afraid to make a tackle in case you get a soft card or worse sending off....

When has this ever been the case? Again I have to scratch my head after the championship just gone how some people in this thread seem to think hurling is after falling apart?

Flukey

fearruanua wrote: »

I just get what the big hullabaloo is about. Players always got booked and sent off. The cards just represent a booking or a sending off. What difference would it make

Exactly. One of the reasons they were brought in was so that people would know what was happening. Before the cards, a foul might happen and the referee would call a player aside, have a chat and then walk away. Everyone would be asking each other whether he had booked him or given him a little bit of a warning or whatever. Nobody would know for sure until the aftermatch reports. The yellow and red cards were a clear way of indicating to everyone as to what had happened.

At times the way people go on about the cards, you'd think that before cards there was no fouling and if you got rid of them it would put an end to it. The only way to stop yellow and red cards is for players to behave themselves. Some players manage to do it. The cards themselves have no impact on how players behave and keeping them or getting rid of them or putting stripes or polka dots on them is going to make no difference whatsoever. Cody can get rid of the cards for his players by getting them all to play within the rules. If he does that, it won't make a difference how many coloured cards a referee has in his back pocket because none of them would ever be seen.

premierstone

Cody in a rant against referees and the rules of the game in Spring, surely not, this must be some sort of a mix up, so out of character :rolleyes:

I love that he maintains there is no dirt in the game whatsoever, this surely is in complete contradiction to what every KK poster has claimed here over the past 2 years and that their poor boys are being targeted and referees are allowing it to happpen, which is it lads??

randd1

premierstone wrote: »

Cody in a rant against referees and the rules of the game in Spring, surely not, this must be some sort of a mix up, so out of character :rolleyes:

I love that he maintains there is no dirt in the game whatsoever, this surely is in complete contradiction to what every KK poster has claimed here over the past 2 years and that their poor boys are being targeted and referees are allowing it to happpen, which is it lads??

A bit of both really.

Kilkenny have been the victim of their own talk of manliness in a way in the way some of their players have been targeted and ended with serious injuries with the officials doing nothing.

And of course there are lads out there who are utterly (and wrongly) convinced Kilkenny invented dirt/cynicism/nastiness with the way Kilkenny hurl, which to be fair there have been plenty of occasions where Kilkenny players have crossed the line, but we are not different to anyone other county when it comes to that (as a Tipp man should know). Kilkenny are no holier in their approach to the game and certainly no dirtier than anyone else.

The point is that while there are occasions (from every county) where a player does cross the line, for the most part players play the game in the right spirit, and in a tough and physical manner befitting the sport.

However there is so much pressure on referees to conform to the rule-book and dispense with common sense that some games are been ruined by what are poor decisions to anyone who follows hurling. That is the point that Cody/Keher/Christy Ring Jnr are making, that the punishments in hurling are too punitive for the offenses due to a lack of freedom of referees to use common sense (which they used to have) because of a rule-book that is black and white in terms of yellow cards.

And I have yet to see Cody or Keher state that players should be allowed to strike an opposition player or that players should not be sent off. Please feel free to provide a link to an article where they have said so.

And seeing as this motion was first mooted in several years ago Cork, by a proud Corkman, and was supported by the Cork county convention with an overwhelming majority, should this not be then considered a Cork agenda supported by Kilkenny and not a Kilkenny agenda to turn hurling into a bloodbath?

shockframe

More 'wont somebody please think of the children' stuff in the GAA,

If Kilkenny would learn to take last years defeat like 'men' and stop this talk about rules then there wouldnt be this debate.

Shefflin got 2 yellows for fouls last July not growing vegetables.

There is always this knee-jerk reaction from one of the big teams when an upstart comes along to win an all ireland. The likes of Keher being wheeled out is perfect as there is many like minded traditionalists in hurling who will love all this warrior/manliness guff and will back him up. Brian Cody only heard of his suggestion recently - before the start of the season. What a coincidence.

We had the same carry on from Jack O'Connor before the Munster Football final in the Examiner last year about how bad football has gotten and something must be done. Strange how this kind of thing is never mentioned when the likes of Kilkenny and Kerry are winning all irelands but lo and behold a Donegal or Clare comes along and then our games are in trouble.

Hurling is no better or worse than most other sports.Everybody does what they have to do to win. There was plenty of physicality in the 2013 championship with/without Kilkenny and will always be there.

The likes of Cody would be best advised to keep his mouth closed.like any other manager or former player.

I'm getting sick of hearing this c''' about how theres something wrong with our games and this houlier-than-thou opinions from players of years gone by.Ye wouldnt like it if ye were criticised back in the day so keep quiet.

sid waddell

Cody needs to fook off and shut up.

Moaning whingebag.

And Keher can stay in the last century with his nonsensical rant about cards.

It's amazing something like this has to be explained, but cards are there for clarity and nothing else.

Hidalgo

Rather than abolishing the use of cards, why not review how they're used.
They were brought in to avoid confusion. A yellow card flashed was obvious for all to see, there was no confusion as opposed to the old system where a a ref might talk to a player but fans POV and even a managers, you might be unsure whether the player was booked or not.

From a spectators POV the cards made things a lot easier. If your in a stand/terrace you can easily see the card being issued.

Keher/Cody are advocating for referees to be allowed use discretion, why not keep the cards and let the ref issue him at his discretion.

Of course the problem with the ref using discretion may be that there will be no uniformality in how the games are reffed and a huge amount could be decided simply be whether a lenient or strict ref is in charge. This is a problem as it is, but 'loosening' the rule book will further add to this problem.
The rule book is there for a reason.

The likes of Shefflins and Horgans sending offs have been highlighted as flaws with the card system, as if a player was never sent off before the card system was introduced.

Perhaps if Linesmen and umpires took/were given an active role in assisting the ref rather than simply turning the blind eye all too often, the refs job might be easier.

In a game as fast as hurling we only have 1 ref, look at basketball or American Football where its a team of officials. A system like that could make the refs job easier, where he can consult with his team, might cut out cards being incorrectly handed out

Realt Dearg Sec

Is this not a Cork motion? Why are Kilkenny getting slated, and not Cork?

Yeah, no agenda at work there...

randd1

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Is this not a Cork motion? Why are Kilkenny getting slated, and not Cork?

Yeah, no agenda at work there...

But that wouldn't suit the theory that Kilkenny are ruining hurling you see. It's only Kilkenny that can be seen to be destroying the game, not a team that doesn't have a bit of dirt in them like Cork.

Forget that it was Cork that first came up with the motion, forget that it was passed by the Cork clubs by a huge majority at their convention, forget that a Corkman intends to bring it before his county convention again after bringing it 5 years ago with the hope of getting it to congress and getting it passed (something neither Keher nor Cody have said they intended to do), this is completely a Kilkenny agenda to allow themselves to bludgeon their way to the AI.

Sure we have to ruin the sport after all, that's all Kilkenny want. God forbid two legends like Cody and Keher (who have contributed infinitely more to the sport than anyone on this forum) are only supporting a CORK motion that they feel would keep hurling a physical sport rather than be sanitized by the refs not been allowed to use common sense.

galwaylad14

I heard this quote too and to be honest I couldn't believe it when I heard it, I think it must just be a case of the quote being taken out of context. How could he possibly justify a game without reds and yellow cards? He says there is no dirt in the game but there clearly is dirty belts dished out all the time. But let's assume for a second that there is no dirt in the game right now, does he not think the yellow and red cards that are there to punish dirty play don't act as a deterrent to stop this dirty play? Of course they do. If they were abolished we'd see a lot more nasty belts and very dangerous pulling etc.

So in his proposed idea, no matter what a player did it could be punishable by no more than a free? So say for example if my own county were playing, our team would be largely regarded, rightly or wrongly, as a "one-man team", so an opposition full back could say just break Joe Canning's arm with a wild, off the ball pull in the first minute and be punished with no more than a free against him? How is that fair?
And yes I'm aware of the irony of using that example after the pull that Joe got away with at the weekend! It's just it seemed the most clear example to use of when a team would benefit so much from not having a yellow or red card system.

To be honest it's hard to view this proposal (if the quote means what we think it means) as anything other than Cody trying to suit his own agenda as his Kilkenny team were always known to be a very "physical" side.

Realt Dearg Sec

galwaylad14 wrote: »

To be honest it's hard to view this proposal (if the quote means what we think it means) as anything other than Cody trying to suit his own agenda as his Kilkenny team were always known to be a very "physical" side.

Ok from here on in I'm just going to call out every post that does this, ESPECIALLY ones JUST after I've just pointed out that this proposal was made by a Cork club and passed overwhelmingly by the cork county board. But no you're right, obviously that cork proposal was just Cody "suiting his agenda". FFS.

galwaylad14

I know a Cork club proposed it but the fact it's been backed by Cody does give it more limelight. And I think most agree that Kilkenny would be suited by the game becoming more physical which is what this suggestion would lead to. In my opinion this would take some of the more skilful players out of the game and would lead to the return of hatchet men.

I can't see this suggestion going anywhere and I really hope for the good of our game that it doesn't. Wreckless and dirty play needs to be punished

galwaylad14

I know a Cork club proposed it but the fact it's been backed by Cody does give it more limelight. And I think most agree that Kilkenny would be suited by the game becoming more physical which is what this suggestion would lead to. In my opinion this would take some of the more skilful players out of the game and would lead to the return of hatchet men.

I can't see this suggestion going anywhere and I really hope for the good of our game that it doesn't. Wreckless and dirty play needs to be punished

Annuv

galwaylad14 wrote: »

I know a Cork club proposed it but the fact it's been backed by Cody does give it more limelight. And I think most agree that Kilkenny would be suited by the game becoming more physical which is what this suggestion would lead to. In my opinion this would take some of the more skilful players out of the game and would lead to the return of hatchet men.

I can't see this suggestion going anywhere and I really hope for the good of our game that it doesn't. Wreckless and dirty play needs to be punished

Why do you think it would suit Kilkenny more than other teams for the game to become more physical?

I'm not singling out Galway, but just to give an example, based on the recent Walsh cup game between the two sides, man for man, Galway are a bigger team than Kilkenny.

Additionally in recent games between the two team, Galway have had two men sent off, Kilkenny had none, a Kilkenny player had his knee cap shattered in another incident that went unpunished, so what's the rationale behind stating that a more physical game would suit Kilkenny over Galway?

Is there some reasoning to it or is it regurgitation of a tired cliche?

Could it be that by backing the Cork clubs proposal, Cody has the sport of hurling in mind rather than just the fortunes of his own team?

randd1

galwaylad14 wrote: »

I know a Cork club proposed it but the fact it's been backed by Cody does give it more limelight. And I think most agree that Kilkenny would be suited by the game becoming more physical which is what this suggestion would lead to. In my opinion this would take some of the more skilful players out of the game and would lead to the return of hatchet men.

I can't see this suggestion going anywhere and I really hope for the good of our game that it doesn't. Wreckless and dirty play needs to be punished

Neither Cody and Keher have said a player should not be sent off, they're just arguing that perhaps the cards are too punitive considering a pot of them are given for innocuous enough challenges which then end up in red cards. In fact Keher did say in his idea that the straight red offenses should stay the same.

And Kilkenny are a physical side, but no more than any other side out there, so I don't see where this would give them an advantage. Tipp, Galway, Dublin, Cork, Clare, Limerick, Waterford, Offaly and Wexford all have big men in their sides and are well able to use them, I see no physical advantage that Kilkenny have over those.