The new Hawkeye point detection technology for hurling and football at Croke Park will make its debut on Saturday, June 1 for the Leinster SFC double-header involving Kildare and Offaly and the winners of Wicklow v Carlow against Dublin.

Hawkeye provides real-time imagery on the stadium's big screen of a ball's trajectory over the posts to remove any ambiguity over whether a point was scored or missed.

The GAA has issued a full explanation of how the new system will work …

What will it NOT do?
- Does NOT detect goals
- Does NOT cover playing rule infringements e.g. Square Ball
- Does NOT involve a TMO (Television Match Official)

What WILL it do?
- Covers Gaelic Football and Hurling
- Detects points only

How does it work?
- Eight high speed cameras
- Ball position triangulated using 4 cameras covering each end
- Height: Up to 26metres i.e. maximum height of goal posts (13m) and a further 13m on a virtual basis.
- Width: Ball is tracked up to 4 metres outside of each post on a virtual basis.
- Where there is any contact between the ball and the virtual post the shot will register as a 'miss' i.e. wide.
- This is per the Playing Rules: Rule 3 - Scores: "A point is scored when the ball is played over the crossbar between the posts by either team".
- Ball and posts both tracked in real time
- Automated decision made within one second

Primary Protocol
- Umpire makes a 'box' signal with his hands to indicate to the Referee that a request for a Hawk-Eye review is being sought
- Referee seeks Hawk-Eye review via communication system and makes 'box' signal with his hand
- The Hawk-Eye replay is shown on the Big Screen
- Referee confirms Hawk-Eye decision and indicates and awards either a 'point' or a miss i.e. a wide or a '45/'65. Umpire signals the decision.

Communicating The Decision
- Virtual Reality (VR) replay of point
- On Big Screen
- On TV

What happens if Umpire does not make a decision?

Where Umpire does not indicate that a point has been scored and the play continues:
- Review Official communicates to Referee that a Hawk-Eye review is necessary
- Referee stops play
- Referee makes a 'box' signal with his hands to seek Hawk-Eye review
- The Hawk-Eye replay is shown on the Big Screen
- Referee confirms Hawk-Eye decision and awards a 'point'. Umpire signals the decision.

What happens if Referee seeks Hawk-Eye review of an Umpire decision?

Where Umpire makes an incorrect decision regarding a 'point' or 'wide': Umpire makes incorrect decision (i.e. 'point' or 'wide')
- Review Official communicates to Referee that a Hawk-Eye review is necessary
- Referee makes a 'box' signal with his hands to seek Hawk-Eye review
- The Hawk-Eye replay is shown on the Big Screen
- Referee confirms Hawk-Eye decision and makes the appropriate decision. Umpire signals that decision.

Back-up Communication

Unavailability of Big Screen
- Where the Big Screen is unavailable all decision will be announced to spectators via the PA system
- Where the games is televised the decision will be shown on TV despite the unavailability of the Big Screen and confirmed with the match officials

Hawk-Eye data unavailable
- If for any reason the Hawk-Eye result is unavailable, the final decision of 'point' or 'wide' will be made by the match officials
- An appropriate graphic indicating same will appear on the Big Screen