The discussions continue this week on the merit of penalty shootouts to conclude hurling fixtures in lieu of match replays.
This past weekend saw Dicksboro bow out of the junior championship semi-finals to Windgap on penalties and while they add a sense of excitement for fans, one former county player has been questioning the mental pressure on younger players.
Listen back: Windgap v Dicksboro, JJ Kavanagh & Sons Premier Junior Hurling Championship semi-final
Speaking to KCLR, All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny Aidan Fogarty says it’s a horrible way to exit a competition.
“You could be coming off the bench as a sub, or you could of playing 80 minutes of hurling.”
“You could be absolutely wrecked with the last strike to win the game or lose the game. If you are a 19 or 20 year old lad and you drive that ball wide, you are going home with your head down and fairly sick.”
“It is too much pressure for a young lad.”
We have also seen this raise the ire in the football community recently after Galway and Armagh was decided by penalties, for the first time at such a crucial stage of the All-Ireland championship. Speaking to RTE Radio after the game Tribesmen boss Padraic Joyce slammed the use of a shootout in favour of a replay;
“It’s a horrible way to lose it but it’s not the fault of the Armagh players, it’s the fault of the GAA. This condensed season, it’s beggar’s belief why we couldn’t go and play a replay next weekend. I know that’s simple for me to say because we won the game, but that was my overriding feeling at halftime.”
“No matter what team won, it’s no way to win a championship match. For the hard work they have put in over the last couple of years, Kieran has put a lot of work in, Galway have put a lot of work in.”
Matthew Tierney scores the winning penalty to book @Galway_GAA‘s spot in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals. pic.twitter.com/xplDy0qV1H
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 26, 2022
“We’re flat out training since last December on a Tuesday, Thursday, on the weekends, four or five times a week. To have to decide the outcome on a penalty shootout?”
“We’re not soccer, we’re GAA. It’s disgraceful that that had to happen.”
Here the full interview with Taggy on Full Time below:
