Former Kilkenny hurler Eoin Larkin says the new rules introduced for inter-county hurling this year are not necessary.
They’re being implemented for the Allianz Hurling and Football Leagues which got underway last weekend.
Annual congress made some big changes, particularly those relating to preventing a goal-scoring opportunity with a cynical foul when advantage should be played, and temporarily replacing a player who has suffered a head injury.
Eoin says they just have to get on with it regardless of their opinions on it.
“You know the GAA comes out with new rules nearly every year and I don’t think it’s necessary, there was nothing wrong with the game of hurling and I suppose the pundits on the television have a lot to do with it as well, highlighting these sort of stuff as well (sic), so you just have to get on with it I suppose, this is the game we love and we wouldn’t change it for the world,” said Eoin.
“If the powers that be think it needs a change they’re going to change it and we just have to get on with it” he added.
Rules
Regarding the rules themselves, in hurling, a team will now be awarded a penalty if one of their players has a goal-scoring opportunity and is pulled down, tripped, or struck carelessly with a hurley while he’s inside the opposition 20-metre line or semi-circular arc.
The player who commits the foul will be yellow-carded and sin-binned for 10 minutes.
This rule will take effect this year for the inter-county season, but not until 2022 for the club game.
The change to the advantage rule means a referee can only play advantage if he believes the team in possession of the ball has a clear goal-scoring opportunity or another advantage ‘by creating or capitalising on time and space.
The new temporary substitution rule for suspected head injuries means if a player sustains a suspected head injury he can be instructed to leave the field by the referee for further assessment.
