NEWS ROUND-UP:SATURDAY'S DECISION by congress to make the wearing of helmets compulsory for all hurlers by 2010 will create difficulties for the small number of players who have hurled throughout their senior careers without wearing the protective headgear.

Waterford's Ken McGrath, one of the most eminent of the current generation of hurlers, has never worn a helmet throughout his 13 seasons with the county senior team. He says that, whereas he regrets the compulsion to make the change at a time when he will be into his 30s, he understands the rationale behind the move.

"I didn't know about this until now. I agree with it for kids, and once you start them off they probably won't take them off as they get older. But when you've been playing your whole career without one it's harder. In Irish life there's less and less things being left up to individuals."

Back in the mid-1990s McGrath made the decision after an underage match, before which he had discarded the headgear, went well for his club just a week before a big match.

"I wore one up until I was 16 in a challenge game before a county final. We won and I stopped that night. I was a young fella and I thought it was a great idea and good luck. We won the county final and I never wore one since."

The move to introduce compulsory helmets was taken incrementally, with juvenile and minors first introduced to the new regulation and two years ago under-21s being brought into the net. With virtually all new senior panellists now well accustomed to the equipment, the rule would have been eventually observed anyway.

According to Dr Pat Duggan, chair of the Medical, Scientific and Welfare Committee, the move was well flagged.

In fact, the weekend's rule change had been promised by president Nickey Brennan in his annual address a year ago.

"Many months ago it was brought up by Tadhg Crowley," said Duggan, "and unanimously recommended by the committee. He went back to Kilkenny, who were to bring it to congress. The evidence is very strong. They've done a lot of work in Ardkeen (hospital) and that's where the statistics came from.

"Officials are very much in favour even if there's resistance among some adult hurlers who weren't used to wearing helmets and were finding it difficult to get used to. But by and large the mood was there to go for it because it's an absolute no-brainer - principally in terms of eye injuries and skin injuries to the face."

Statistics released in 2006 by Ardkeen hospital in Waterford showed that the compulsory wearing of helmets had had a dramatic effect on the incidence of serious eye injuries among under-18s, which in the year either side of the new regulation fell from 11 to two.

The final extension of the process to include all senior players will come into effect on next January 12 months.

"A lot would wear them," said McGrath, "the majority I'd say. It's just I never got used to it. It never affected me playing without them and it never occurred to me to get one.

"At 18 or 19, I got a bad enough facial injury - and I suppose everyone knows there's a few of us with no teeth in the Waterford team - and I suppose at that age you probably think 'what the hell'.

"Touch wood, I've only had a few tips since then, but I've a young family now as well and it's something you have to think about as you get older. You don't want to be getting too many belts on the head."

Nonetheless he remains apprehensive as to how he can make the change at what would be the end of his career should he stay involved over the next two years.

"I wouldn't have a clue how to play (wearing a helmet). I'm sure it takes some adjustment. There's a fine line between winning and losing in county hurling and something small at all will irritate you at times and having your vision affected with (visor) bars in front of you could make a big difference."