A hurling review committee headed by former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy has made 15 proposals to help improve the game, including the introduction of squad numbers and the scrapping of the rule whereby two yellow cards result in a player being sent off.

Whilst the committee decided that there was no appetite for introducing a black card, they propose that rather than a player being dismissed for two separate yellow card offences and a team being reduced to 14 men, the player in question should be replaced to keep the game at 15-a-side.

Sheedy explained during his presentation of the proposals that “a huge amount is going well in hurling and we are under no illusions – this is the best field game in the world.

“The two yellow cards is probably the one proposal that didn’t get the best traction from the counties when we went through it, but ultimately, rather than thinking of what mightn’t work, what we are trying to ask is would the game be better than it is today if that was the way, rather than looking at what might be wrong with it.

“Ultimately, as a minor it is a big deal if you are sent off in Croke Park and your team is down to 14 men. At 16, 17 years of age, when you are trying to come of age in Croke Park, and you are sent off for what could have been two borderlines – the bigger players can deal with it but I feel for a minor.

Big deal

“ I think it is a big deal for his family and for his club for him to be sent off and I feel, definitely, that if it is borderline then there is the option with two yellows of him being replaced.”

The GAA Hurling 2020 Review Committee’s proposals were released yesterday and may be passed in time for the start of the championship.

The committee also propose that the introduction of squad numbers for intercounty teams will stifle the current trend of “dummy teams” and allow for further marketing of the players, and the game itself.

“Initially what I’d be saying is that you would get your one to 30 squad,” said Sheedy. “The programme will still stay the same but positions don’t mean anything now. The number two could play number six; number six could play number two. Really, does the number on the back matter anymore from a positional sense?

“I think the dummy team is not good. If everybody gets the one to 30 panel that’s playing on Sunday that will help. Every bit more importantly whatever player is wearing number eight or number nine . . . they become very much recognised. It is about building a fan-base.”

"My first All-Ireland was watching Johnny Flaherty and I can still picture him with his 'tache, small little lad in the corner. Cillian Buckley was probably one of the players of the championship last year, if he walked into this room would everybody know him?

“I think that’s the challenge for the GAA. Would numbers help move us on to where players are more identifiable?

“I think taking off the helmets when they are walking around was good. It is all about trying to build the identity of our intercounty players and we feel squad numbers would benefit that.”

The 11-person committee, which also included former Limerick hurler Ollie Moran, Veronica Curtin and Ollie Canning from Galway, Clare's Frank Lohan and Paul Flynn from Waterford, has already proposed changes to the penalty rule – reducing the number of players allowed on the line from three to just one.

Further to the penalty proposal, for any free from outside of the rectangle they propose that only three players be allowed to join their goalkeeper on the line so as to increase the taker’s goal scoring opportunity.

Hydration concerns

Other proposals include the removal of a relegation/ promotion play off between the

Christy Ring Cup

winners and the losers of the

Leinster

round-robin series, allowing for the Christy Ring winners to automatically be promoted. There’s also recommendations to increase the number of ‘maor uisces’ to address hydration concerns as well as the standardisation of the sliotar at all levels.

The former All-Ireland-winning manager added that the core aim of the proposals is the necessary “transformation” of the game’s participation levels, rather than the “tweaking” of rules.

“Let’s be open and let’s also recognise that 15 of the last 16 All-Ireland finals have been won by three counties – that’s 94 percent – and is that ultimately good for our game?

"I think in the 90s we thought we were going to have a hurling revolution; you had Clare coming up,you had Offaly making the breakthrough you had Wexford making the breakthrough, I think you need counties like that coming through.

More counties

“ I’ll personally never forget the experience when the Liam Mac Carthy went into Tipperary in 2010 but we need more counties feeling that because that’s where you grow the game because that’s where the kids will get the taste of it.”

The GAA’s Central Council will meet next month with these proposals on the agenda.