Interview: Des Cullinane on Hurling 2020 Proposals

The GAA's Hurling 2020 Review Committee published 15 proposals for the game this week. Among the changes are a player who is shown two yellow cards could be replaced, instead of sent-off, while they're also seeking to make one-on-one penalties a permanent fixture. One of the key recommendations for the growth of hurling is for the appointment of a full-time Director of Hurling. See below for a full break down of the proposals, via GAA.ie Cork's Des Cullinane was one of the eight people on the Committee led by Liam Sheedy, we spoke to him at length about how the panel researched before laying out these reconsiderations, their reaction to some criticism for certain aspects of the document, as well as some of the other items suggested by the public that didn't make it through. Click PLAY above to hear the interview in full.   Section 1: Hurling Participation Work with an external consultancy organisation to produce a best practice template to be used as a blueprint to share with all counties which if followed will help to build up hurling within each county from its foundations. Establish a full-time Director of Hurling role. Section 2: Proposals For Rule Changes The Hurling 2020 committee proposes that the awarding of a penalty in hurling will result in the penalty taker having to face one defender on the line. The ball can be placed anywhere outside the 20m line but must be struck no closer than 20m. The Hurling 2020 committee proposes the existing rule be changed to allow for just three defenders on the goal line while enshrining in rule that the ball cannot be struck any closer than the 20m line. New Advantage Rule to replace Rule 4.36 and Rule 5.35, for implementation in 2015 (See full report for further details) To ensure fairness and consistency, we propose the standardisation of the ball in hurling at all levels. Section 3: Disciplinary Structures Set up a Hurling Referees Sub-Committee at National level from 2015 onwards To order off a player who commits a second Cautionable Foul/Infraction by showing him a second Yellow Card followed by pointing to the sideline to indicate he can no longer take part in the game. Allow a replacement from within the substitutions permitted in Rule 2.4, Rules of Specification. Section 4: Competition Structures Remove all Promotion/Relegation playoffs involving teams in different divisions in the Allianz Hurling Leagues. Remove the Promotion/Relegation playoff involving the bottom team in the Leinster Round-Robin competition and the Christy Ring Cup champion. Instead, the bottom Leinster Round-Robin team would be relegated to the Christy Ring Cup while the Christy Ring Cup champion would be automatically promoted as a reward for winning the competition. Increase the length of time to play the Christy Ring Cup from five weekends to seven weekends. Play the Christy Ring Cup Final as a curtain raiser to a high profile Liam MacCarthy Cup All-Ireland Senior Hurling Qualifier Section 5: The Club Reset the terms of reference of the Central Fixtures Oversight Body to ensure the Club Fixtures Schedule, which provides regular games and activity, is adhered to. Section 8: Miscellaneous Increase the number of ‘Maor Camán’/’Maor Uisce’ by one for senior inter-county hurling league and championship games starting in 2015. Allocate squad numbers to each team in the Liam MacCarthy Cup prior to their team’s first game.