When a hurler like TJ Reid questions the validity of the new penalty rule proposal there may be still the need for further adjustment. Reid actually reckons it will be too easy to score, that goalkeepers will have little or no chance, and this will take from the excitement normally associated with the awarding of the penalty.
The new rule – which allows for only the goalkeeper to stand on the line, in a one-on-one with the striking forward – is part of the Hurling 2020 proposals which come before next month’s Congress for approval: Reid, now Kilkenny’s designated penalty-taker, believes the existing rule is still the better option, with perhaps a little allowance for the forward to lift and strike the ball past the 20-metre line.
“If I was going to change the rule, I would have brought it back to the normal way, like when DJ Carey used to lift the ball, bring it in two yards or so, then strike it, with the three men on the line,” said Reid.
“A penalty is very exciting for the spectators. So maybe if you took it from the 21m line, could lift it in two yards, then strike, it would have made more sense. It’d be 50-50 then.
“I haven’t tried it yet, obviously. But I think if a forward hits it bang on the goalie has no chance, unless the ball hits off him. It’ll be like soccer now - the goalie is going to have to pick his spot before you hit it.
“When you strike a ball now it’s going probably 100 miles an hour so if you’re standing in the middle and it goes into the bottom corner you haven’t a chance. So the penalty is in the forward’s advantage now, definitely. The rule last year was probably in the backs’ favour, because it was difficult to score last year.
“We’ll find out in a few weeks’ time, but I just think if you’re in goal and if I’m taking the penalty and if I strike it any way decent at all I think the goalie is not going to have much chance. Unless he guesses the right way, and he’s there when the ball is struck.”
Other proposals
Reid – who is currently preparing for Ballyhale Shamrocks’ All-Ireland club semi-final against Gort, on February 7th - also questioned one of the proposals of the Central
Council Work Group
, which is looking to condense the club championship into the one calendar year: under the new calendar, any replays in either the All-Ireland hurling or football championship would be played a week later, instead of three weeks later.
“Well, you would definitely need two weeks, at least. After an All-Ireland final you would be pretty sore on the Monday and the Tuesday and you are only getting back to things on a Wednesday.
“If a player gets injured, a hamstring or some little injury, or a calf injury he’s obviously gone the week after. If you had two weeks it would be more ideal because you would be recharged and refreshed again. Six days would be hard. You would be in the ice-baths trying to recover, you wouldn’t be doing any physical stuff during the week only making sure that your body is healing. So it would be tough.”
