'Hurling can learn from football rule change experiment' - Kelly

Barry Kelly, a prominent figure in Westmeath GAA and a man whose opinions resonate widely, has weighed in on the Football Review Committee’s (FRC) proposed rule changes.

Kelly, the current chairman of Westmeath’s Coiste na nÓg and a stalwart of both the Mullingar Shamrocks football club and St Oliver Plunkett’s hurling club, is also a former inter-county referee, having taken charge of four All-Ireland hurling finals. His deep understanding of the game, from both on and off the field, gives his perspective particular credibility.

Kelly, who is a key member of the GAA’s referees development committee, recently attended a presentation by FRC chairman Jim Gavin. The FRC is evaluating a series of potential changes for Gaelic football, and Kelly believes hurling has a golden opportunity to let football trial these first before deciding what could work in the smaller ball game.

“It’s good for hurling in the sense that football will be the guinea pig,” Kelly remarked. “We can watch how the rule changes work in football and, from there, hurling can decide what to take on and what to leave behind.”

Among the proposals under consideration is the introduction of a clock/hooter system, similar to what has been used in other sports like rugby and basketball. The idea is that a countdown clock would be used to signal the end of each half, rather than the referee’s whistle. While the FRC may push this idea for football, Kelly remains unconvinced of its necessity in hurling.

“I’m not sure there’s a need for it in hurling,” he said. “You might have around seven minutes of additional time in most matches, but it’s not as if players are angling for draws. I’ve seen the clock/hooter system in ladies’ football, and honestly, it can make the end of a game feel a bit flat.”

Kelly does, however, see potential in other proposed rule changes. One idea that caught his eye is the advancement of the ball by 50 metres for dissent or other infringements, a disciplinary measure used effectively in rugby. He believes this could work in hurling, particularly as a way to discourage cynical fouls. “A free being turned into a scoreable free due to dissent would really make players think twice. Imagine committing a foul on the opposition’s 20-metre line, and it’s brought all the way up the field. That’s a game-changer.”

Kelly also noted the success of the “tap-and-go” rule during a recent trial game in Mullingar, part of the FRC’s sandbox initiative, which tests out proposed rule changes in a controlled environment. “It worked brilliantly in football,” Kelly said, “and while it may not be as significant for hurling, it’s still worth exploring.”

Patrick Doherty, Westmeath GAA’s Head of Operations, is also involved in the review process as a member of Jim Gavin’s committee. With Doherty playing a key role, Westmeath’s influence on the national stage could be pivotal as the FRC deliberates on which rules to push forward for Gaelic football.

For Kelly, it’s important that any changes in football be given time to settle before they’re considered for hurling. He emphasises the importance of patience, stating that hurling doesn’t need to rush into adopting new rules that may not suit the nature of the game.

“We’ve got a chance to let football be the test case,” he said. “Hurling can then take on the ideas that make sense, while leaving others behind.”

While some in the GAA community, like former GAA president Nickey Brennan, have suggested that certain rules – such as the clock/hooter – would need to be implemented consistently across both codes, Kelly remains focused on the practicalities. “There’s a lot to consider,” he said. “Hurling is a different game, and we need to be careful about what we take from football. But I’m open to changes – if they benefit the game.”

Ultimately, Kelly’s view is clear: hurling should be open to evolution, but in a measured and thoughtful way, allowing football’s trial run to pave the way for any future adjustments to the hurling rulebook.

“If hurling can be tweaked for the better, I don’t have any problem with that at all,” he concluded.