I don't know much about hurling but I'd watch a fair bit of it, and I was just wondering why don't they remove 1 defender from the line during a penalty and the problem would be solved, that way you would just have to beat the goalie and 1 defender from the 21.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 02/10/2014 13:20:07    1659335

Fester,its not that simple at all.2/10 penalties have been scored since the rule was ammended mid season.That is 80% of penalties that have been unsuccessful.Did it ever occur to you that the fact the striking players,now have to worry about encroaching past the 21 yard line?This is something that a player never had to contemplate in 130 years.Im sure this is an extra burden on a penalty taker.Also the extra 5/7 yards distance,was probably making the striking players,try to overcompensate for this by striking the sliotar harder than their normal refined strike,honed from the day they started to play the game.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 02/10/2014 15:24:46    1659417

The statement I replied to was the one which stated Tipp would be champions under the old rule. Regardless of where they were struck from they weren't going to trouble anybody, so in that case I think it is simple. I've played a fair bit of hurling and I believe it's much easier to strike the ball cleanly with a shorter lift as opposed to throwing the ball out ahead of yourself, a skill which very few players would master. There's no doubt the rule shouldn't have been changed mid year. Personally I'd favour one on one with the taker only being allowed a step forward to balance. For sure the players have to keep an eye on the line at present but don't tell me they haven't practised it enough to know when to hit the ball.

Fester (Carlow) - Posts: 15 - 02/10/2014 21:11:14    1659569