CLARE MANAGER DAVY FITZGERALD believes that the GAA must deal with Anthony Nash style frees and prevent free-takers from gaining metres when striking the ball.
Speaking after his side’s Allianz National League Division 1A win over Kilkenny, the former goalkeeper says a change has to happen when Congress meets to discuss the matter.
“There’s no if, and or buts, it’s about safety, one hundred per cent.
“If you had a son inside in goals and he gets that from 12 or 13 yards out into the throat or any part of the lower body, that’s going to do damage.
“There has to be common sense, nothing else and I mean this, please just don’t do what counties want you to do, vote for common sense and do the right thing, that’s all I say. It’s a no-brainer this one.”
The 42-year old drew on his own experience to explain just what a disadvantage it is for defenders and goalkeepers when they have to face a player who can advance the sliotar from the spot of the free.
“I’m telling you, from inside in goals, there are some balls that you don’t even see and if they hit you from 12 or 13 yards, you haven’t a hope, just haven’t a hope.
“Because we could all work on a style like that and get our free-takers to end up on the 13; we can all work on that, but I don’t want to work on it, I really don’t.”
However, Fitzgerald hopes that the GAA don’t heed Brian Cody’s calls to remove all cards from hurling, especially in relation punishing cynical fouls.
“Let’s be straight about this, if something is cynical, it has to be dealt with, yellow or red.
“Could I give out to Brian Gavin (referee for Clare’s game with Kilkenny) for giving Brendan Bugler a yellow card today? I couldn’t because it was a yellow card and it needed to be dealt with.
“If they are out there, they need to be dealt with, end of story with a yellow or red. Let’s be intelligent, we don’t need to send off fellas willy nilly, that’s all I’ll say.
“Just if it’s very bad, the person goes, end of story and let’s enjoy our game of hurling the way it is going, I think that’s important.”
Additional reporting from Eoin Brennan.
