Drawn knock-out games in the Allianz Hurling League are set to be decided by 65-metre frees if the game is still level after extra time.
You may have missed, late last year, news that the GAA’s Central Council was bringing in 65-metre frees as tie-breaker in order to eliminate the chance of a quarter- or semi-final going to a replay.
The GAA calendar is as congested as ever and this new procedure is being brought about to help alleviate the matter in some small way.
The council will meet again, later this month, to decide the best way forward with the shoot-outs. The most likely option is that there will be five players chosen from each team to step up and try their luck/skill from 65 metres out.
If, once again, both teams remain level after that, sudden death will ensue.
The tie-breaker format is an exciting one and will certainly test the skills and wits of the country’s finest hurlers. God help them if the wind picks up or it is bucketing down.
Austin Gleeson: He’ll probably do alright at the aul’ 65sThe Allianz Hurling League quarter finals are slated for successive weekends in mid April so replays are out the window. The final, if drawn, would still go to a replay.
A similar concept will be introduced in the All-Ireland U17 football competition, with frees from the 45-metre line the likely option. It must be decided whether these frees can be out of hand, off the ground or optional.
