Cunningham admits safety fears

Ger Cunningham believes the GAA are risking serious injury by continuing to allow the “Anthony Nash style” of free-taking.

Nash provoked much debate last year when he threw the ball forward from 20-metre frees so he was closer to goal when he pulled the trigger.

The existing rules will remain in place for the remainder of the championship at least, and Cunningham has concerns over the safety of players who are standing on the goal-line.

“I tell you, it is a fairly frightening place to stand, 12 or 13 yards away from an Anthony Nash penalty.”
Ger Cunningham

“Someone is going to get a belt of a ball, and you would have to have some fears for health and safety,” said Cunningham. “I don’t think that is over the top.

“We see when Anthony throws it up, like he did against Tipp in the league semi-final, he goes well forward. What’s to say the next fella won’t throw it in even further? So I think it is an issue, and the GAA will have to look at it.

“I stood on the line last year when he (Nash) was practicing, and you are just saying to yourself ‘don’t hit me, please’. I tell you, it is a fairly frightening place to stand, 12 or 13 yards away from an Anthony Nash penalty.

“For the moment, it doesn’t matter, because it is going to be there for the championship. But we see other teams doing it as well, other fellas trying to perfect the art of what he is doing. Like TJ Reid, is at it.

“I am sure Joe Canning will do it and other teams are seeing this works. So the other side is that if you are involved, and have it as part of your armoury, then you’d want to keep it.”

Enforced

Cunningham would like to see the 20-metre free limit to be strictly enforced, and for just the goalkeeper to be allowed stand on the goal-line for penalties.

“Personally I would go back to that, where you have to hit the ball at the 20-metre line, but I would have only one goalie on the line,” said Cunningham, who was speaking at the launch of the All-Ireland U21 Hurling Championship at Semple Stadium.

“In years gone by they have changed from five or six on the goal line, to just three, but I would go back to having one. Just the goalie, and that the player start outside, and then strike on the 20-metre line.

“A penalty should nearly be a guaranteed score, so that would be a challenge. But I think if you ask goalkeepers themselves I think the consensus would be they would love that challenge.”