The Hurling 2020 committee are expected to make proposals to change the format of the current penalties in hurling from two defenders and the goalie on the line, to just one goalkeeper on the line facing the lone forward.
According to today’s Irish Examiner, the committee are keen on the proposal of just the goalkeeper facing the penalty, while the ball will still be struck from behind the 21-metre line.
On the committee are former Clare All-Star Frank Lohan and Kilkenny man Pat Henderson and it is chaired by former All-Ireland winning manager Liam Sheedy. The group have tried various methods of penalty taking over the last few months behind closed doors and it seems that their favoured option is the 1 v 1.
The whole penalty situation came under scrutiny last season following the Anthony Nash technique which necessitated a change in the traditional penalty rules when players around the country began to mimic Nash’s ‘flick and run after it’ method. Players were striking the ball with force from the 14-metre line and it was becoming a safety hazard for the players on the line.
However, the change made this year proved even more controversial and the number of penalties scored by teams was greatly reduced. Players complained that getting a penalty was no benefit and that the backs were at a huge advantage. The prime example is the drawn All-Ireland final between Tipperary and Kilkenny, where Tipp had two penalties saved with ease by Kilkenny; no doubt this rule change will be a bittersweet moment for Tipp fans.
The committee is expected to propose that the new rules be trialled during the National League in 2015.
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