Score-keeping may go hi-tech

Gaelic Games: The GAA is prepared to employ new means of improving score-keeping at major matches, including the introduction of electronic sensors and video analysis.

The days of the men in the white coats may not yet be numbered but yesterday GAA president Seán Kelly outlined some of the new technologies he believes should be explored to improve the accuracy and reliability of score-keeping.

Highlighting the problem once again was last Sunday's Leinster football championship match between Westmeath and Offaly, where a disputed first-half point by Westmeath's Brian Morley was awarded. Westmeath went on to win by a point.

On Tuesday evening the Offaly County Board reviewed video evidence from the game, which they claim clearly shows the ball going wide. Under rule 149 (c), however, there is no provision for appeal.

Leinster Council chairman Nicky Brennan confirmed yesterday that no correspondence had been received from Offaly and that the matter, as far as they were concerned, "was closed".

Yet according to the GAA president the time has come to embrace new technologies: "I was in New York at the weekend and didn't see that particular incident myself," said Kelly. "And certainly there can always be cases of human error.

"But this is something we have looked at in the past, and whether or not there is any electronic means of deciding if the ball goes inside or outside of the post. And with the technology available to us today that should be possible. Most of all this is about justice, and if a point is given that isn't a point then there should be some way of clearing it up."

Several other sports have embraced such technologies, such as the video referee used in rugby and the electronic line sensors in tennis. Kelly said that all options, including video analysis, should be examined.

"It should be looked at down the line. I don't think there's anything worse than having a score allowed that wasn't a score at all. And I've dealt with that myself as chairman of the Munster Council, and the famous goal that Gerry Murphy got for Kerry against Tipperary that was in fact wide."

Electronic means of score-keeping have already been explored by the GAA, including the insertion of a microchip into the sliotar that reads the exact accuracy of its route through or past the posts: "Unfortunately that didn't work too well," recalled Kelly. "But that was a few years ago, so I'm quite sure something can be worked on in the near future."

The other major talking point currently surrounding the championship is the illegal use of substitutes in the Westmeath-Kildare hurling match in Leinster, which has left Westmeath facing almost certain disqualification despite their convincing victory.

Again Kelly highlighted the need for attention on this issue, and has already made moves to revise the rulebook for such cases, with specific regard to the harsh penalty of automatic forfeiture of the game.

"Only this morning I was talking to some members of the Rules Task Force. But there are two issues here. First the rule itself, and second the penalty. It's quite obvious that the penalty in most cases is far too severe. And in fact at the last Central Council meeting we got rid of several of the more severe penalties in terms of fines for smaller offences. And there is probably a need for something similar in this situation.

"But at the moment the rule is there, and we can't do anything about it until it comes to Congress. There was an opportunity for people concerned about this last year to put forward a motion to Congress. That didn't come. So maybe it's time to initiate that ourselves at our level, and I think you'll find we'll look at a number of rules where the penalty might be too severe."

Kelly's comments won't bring much consolation to Westmeath, who still appear destined to surrender their win over Kildare for using a sixth substitute in last Sunday week's game in Mullingar. The Leinster Council will make a final decision on that outcome next Tuesday night.

"Obviously forfeiture is very severe, especially for something that's done in the last few minutes of the game, and is purely human error, rather than anything intentional. But you cannot change the rules midstream, and maybe it's time also for the people in charge of teams to be very, very careful of how they use substitutes."