IT WASN’T without some degree of satisfaction that GAA president Christy Cooney yesterday declared the recent furore over football’s hand-pass rule as “blown out of all proportion”. Cooney also denied there was any softening of the rule since the opening weekend of the championship and that the new water-carrier rule would also be enforced as agreed.
“With regards to the hand-pass the rule is still clearly there,” said Cooney. “It was clearly outlined to the referees as to how the rule was to be implemented and there was no change in that.
“This change in the hand-pass has been blown out of all proportion. The change in the hand-pass is so minimal it is unbelievable. In the Down against Donegal game last Sunday there was no major issue around the hand-pass situation. We have moved on. The rule is there, the change is there, and we move on with it. We will make it happen. If there is an issue with the hand-pass it is up to coaches and managers to coach players and the referees to ensure it is applied properly.”
Tyrone footballer manager Mickey Harte was among those to speak out in recent weeks against the new water-carrier rule, whereby the throwing of water bottles onto the field of play is prohibited, and with water carriers banned from entering the field during play, players must instead come to the sideline for water. Cooney was also adamant this rule wouldn’t be softened and that teams would be fined for any breaches. “With regard to the water regulations, the situation is still the same. There is a regulation there that we all agreed on and that Central Council passed, and we can’t decide to change regulations willy nilly just because somebody is unhappy with it.
“I was in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last weekend and I did not think it was abused that excessively by either side and it was a warm enough day. I personally have not got any complaints about it, so I don’t know how serious an issue it is to be honest.
“Whenever a new regulation comes in there is always a furore and then it dies down after a period of time, and people get on with it. These are little sideshows that detract from the quality of our games, because people fall in line after a period of time.”
The decision to delay the throw-in time for Sunday’s Munster hurling quarter-final between Cork and Tipperary, due to the extra-time in the Donegal-Down Ulster football quarter-final, was “unusual”, said Cooney, but then so too were the circumstances.
“In fairness to RTÉ they had discussions with the Munster Council a couple of weeks back about the possibility of this happening. It was always likely Donegal and Down could come down to that situation (extra-time) but I believe that there was an issue about the amount of time both teams were off the field at half-time. That is something we will have to look at and that caused a further delay in the situation. It was explained to both teams and they did not have an issue around it. But it’s not a major issue, and it only happens in the first-round games anyway.”
Cooney was speaking in Croke Park at the announcement the Irish Daily Mail would be the new International Rules Series sponsors, and that TG4 would sponsor the Irish team – and broadcast the two games live from Limerick on Saturday, October 23rd, and in Croke Park seven days later, with both games to be played under lights. “Saturday night is perfect in our view and I think it will work very well,” said Cooney. “But there are a lot of club championships on around that tine as well and you are also into the early stages of the All-Ireland club series.
“Discipline went very well on the last occasion and I don’t think there is an issue around that. The rules were altered somewhat to overcome that kind of bother and I would be happy there will not be an issue around that. As long as it is sporting and the people want to come and see it I would be in favour of retaining it. It is great for the players and it is something special for them to represent their country.”
