The View: Drawing games; drawing up rules; drawn out seasons; and drawing to a close.

The View: Drawing games; drawing up rules; drawn out seasons; and drawing to a close.

By Noel Dundon (Tipperary media)

A third draw in succession in the FBD Insurance county senior hurling championship represents boom time for the County Board with an additional bumper gate in the offing on Sunday week for the senior replay, and next Saturday for the premier intermediate replay.

Sarsfields were in two finals last weekend and didn’t win either. But, neither did they lose either and their season is now drawn out for another stretch in both grades before the premier intermediate side draws to a close – win or lose, they will not progress to the Munster championship and Lorrha Dorrha will be Tipperary’s representatives in that championship no matter the result.

So, Kiladangan will have been involved in four county finals in twelve months – two draws and two replays – and that monster score from Willie Connors to level the game was greeted with a mighty cheer in FBD Semple Stadium as tea-time approached on Sunday evening. Unquestionably, a draw was the fair result. There is nothing between the sides and anybody putting the house on a winner had better make sure they have a second abode to fall back on, because the Dan Breen Cup could  make a short or a long journey when the decision is made. It is even-steven and anything could happen.

A small attendance at a final which was pedestrian enough – the close nature of proceedings kept interest all the way through, but neither side really cut loose and went for it. Instead, it was cagey, try to make no mistake kind of hurling. Abandon was abandoned and free flowing fare was limited. But still, it was compelling viewing and the hope is that more will attend in person for the replay.

Did Lorrha Dorrha leave the premier intermediate title after them? Time will tell, but they certainly had the chances to win it. Credit Sarsfields for coming from behind to snatch a draw with that Michael O’Brien score to force a replay. An open replay in store again? Probably, but Lorrha Dorrha might have the edge.

Boherlahan Dualla had double cause for celebration in the intermediate final when they defeated thirteen man Golden Kilfeacle, in front of the heroes of 1996 who were being honoured on county final day as the silver jubilee team. Boherlahan Dualla were the better team alright and deserved their victory –boy did they celebrate afterwards and as they venture forth into the premier intermediate grade in 2024 they will have the good wishes of the men of ’96 to accompany them. A young team enough, they will have to adjust to the increased pace and power of the higher grade.

Clonoulty Rossmore had a great win too in the county junior A hurling final over Ballinahinch –a surprisingly sizeable margin of victory flattered the west side, it appears, with an injury to former Tipp star Shane McGrath not helping the north men. Coming not to long after their All-Ireland junior B victory a few years ago, this was a great win for Clonoulty Rossmore, although the team personnel has changed considerably since those halcyon days in Ballyagran.

It was a great weekend for Mullinahone too as they claimed the FBD Insurance county minor A hurling title at the expense of Holycross Ballycahill. This U17 final was played in Cashel at noon on Sunday and a tight game all the way through ended up with the south runners-up emerging victorious over the holders. It was the second year in succession that a divisional runner-up ended up as county champion in the grade and the result shattered Holycross Ballycahill’s bid to add the U17 double to their already secured U19 double. A milestone victory for the Kickhams was greeted with great celebration.

Celebration was hardly the order of the day for JK Brackens after they survived relegation in the senior hurling grade having defeated neighbours Upperchurch Drombane – relief was probably the over-riding emotion for them while bitter disappointment is the Church’s lot. For a side which promised much and came so close to winning a first ever divisional title, dropping a grade is a big blow to Upperchurch Drombane. The key for them is to embrace their new enforced status and to move mountains to get back up. That means winning the premier intermediate grade and they must set their face against that task and remain united in their steadfastness to bounce back.

Brackens meanwhile are out again next Sunday in the FBD Insurance county senior football final against a hotly fancied Clonmel Commercials. The holders are overwhelming favourites to win a fourth crown in five years and a sixth since 2015, thereby drawing level with Fethard in the titles table with 21 to their name. Templemore’s second and last title was in 1936 so the Cardens’ men are well due a break as they bid for the O’Dwyer Cup. But, smart money will be on them not getting that break this year. Still, in a two horse race, the winner has to jump every fence and Brackens will be hoping to put a few obstacles in the way of the southern big ball aristocrats.

Aherlow and Grangemockler will be the curtain raiser in FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday as they battle it out for the Barrett Cup and in keeping with tradition, Fethard will be the silver jubilee team feted between the senior and intermediate finals. The side won the county final in 1997 when they defeated Aherlow – they have just one title to their name in the meantime, a 2001 victory over Aherlow again. At that stage they had 21 titles to their name and their closest rival was Commercial who had fourteen titles at the time – now Commercial are bidding to draw level on the titles front winning six championships, while Fethard’s fortunes have taken a downward turn. Loughmore Castleiney have won five titles in that period but are still six behind Fethard in the titles count and third in the pecking order with 15 to their name.

Rud Eile

The GAA’s Standing Committee on Playing Rules have commenced trialling two alternative playing rules in the Higher Education Freshers 1 Hurling League relating to the hand-pass and the puck-out.

This hand pass scourge has long been a bone of contention and Tipperary’s own Conor O’Donovan has been to the forefront in trying to have the rules changed in order to enhance the hand passing skill and make it easier to determine a throw from a hand pass. Thankfully, at last, the Association is listening, but it has taken a long time and remember this is only a trial yet.

When hand-passing, players will now have two options. They can strike the sliotar with the non-holding hand; or with the original holding hand after bouncing the ball off the hurley.

The rule is being trialled because the frequency of hand-passing in hurling has risen markedly in recent years and there have been concerns over the frequency with which the ball is being thrown rather than correctly hand-passed. There was a 73% increase in the use of the hand pass in the Allianz League in 2016 to the league and championship of 2023. During the 2023 Allianz Hurling League 1.2 fouls per game were given for throws but a GAA statistical analysis picked up on 2.9 throws per game on average. So, only half the throws were punished with frees.

Of course it can be extremely difficult for referees to ascertain whether a hand-pass has been executed correctly or thrown, and the idea behind the rule being trialled is that the striking action required to hand-pass the ball will be much clearer, with greater separation between hand and sliotar.

The second hurling rule being trialled will require all puck-outs to travel past a team’s own ’45 yard line, that is the ’45 nearest the goalkeeper taking the puck-out. No harm in this one either – call me old school if you like, but for the life of me I cannot understand why a goalkeeper needs to puck the ball out to the corner back. This rule might just bring more play into the midfield sector – or the middle third as it is being called now. The danger though is that it might lead to huge crowding in that sector. It will be interesting to see what strategy the whiteboard coaches will come up with for this one.

A pre-competition survey has also been circulated to third level coaches, development officers, and referees which enabled them to submit any questions they might have about the trialled playing rules before the competition starts.

Once the competition commences, a post-game survey will allow those same stakeholders to submit their feedback, comments, and suggestions about the implementation of the rules and any additional considerations about the rules the SCPR might want to take into account.

Gaelic Stats will undertake a comprehensive analysis of the trialled rules, and a report will then be produced in December for presentation to Central Council in January 2024.

Mar focail scoir

It’s been a difficult watch from the sidelines as controversy reigns in Down following the appointment of a referee for the county football final between Kilcoo and Burren. An objection to that referee on the grounds of bias ended up with the DRA before well known David Goff was appointed by the Board as a replacement. However, he then withdrew from the game and a third referee eventually took over and saw Kilcoo win the game by 2-12 to 0-9. The whole debacle leaves a sour taste and Down County Board are now embarking upon a resolution which will make the appointing of referees sacrosanct. There is, it would appear, a lot more going on in the background than most people are privy to.