Canning against names on jerseys
January 08, 2010

Joe Canning of Galway
Joe Canning has expressed his opposition to plans to put hurlers' names on the back of jerseys now that the wearing of helmets has become compulsory.
Speaking at the launch of the Marc Sports new hurling helmet scrappage scheme at Croke Park yesterday, the Galway sharpshooter said: "I'd rather just come off the field and be the same as everyone and not many people know you and you can walk around and live a normal life.
"I suppose it is a thing for the reporters getting to know the players on the pitch. It is similar with the jerseys and the way the numbers were also put on the front of the jerseys.
"If it is in, it is in. If it is not, it's not. It is not a big deal for me anyway."
Revealing the Association's plans to put names on the back of jerseys, GAA director-general Paraic Duffy admitted that hurling has always suffered from a lack of recognition of its top players as most wear helmets.
He said: "Going forward, it's something we might look at. At the moment, our primary concern is to get everyone wearing a helmet, that's our first goal. Marketing the games comes after that.
"But it is a valid point. It's been an issue for quite a long time that hurlers are not as easily recognisable as footballers but at the minute we don't have any plans to do that."
Most Read Stories