Tinkering on sidelines is 'mad really'

Frank Roche

DUBLIN boss Anthony Daly has joined the growing queue of managers to suggest the new sideline rule will have a more negative impact on hurling than football, writes Frank Roche.

While Kilkenny manager Brian Cody and selector Martin Fogarty have been at the vanguard of vociferous complaint, Daly believes it is "mad really" to expect two hurley carriers to look after as many as 80 hurls while dispensing water too.

For the upcoming NHL, as with football, teams will be limited to five backroom personnel on the line. It means Daly will be compelled to communicate with selectors in the stand via ear pieces

"You just have to get used to the yoke in your ear, which I don't like, to tell the truth. You're pressing a button and then it's 'Are you there, Hedgo? Jeeeesus'!" he quipped about selector Ciarán Hetherton.

Reiterating his belief there wasn't "too much wrong" with the number of bodies previously allowed, Daly added: "I don't know why we tinker with it for the sake of tinkering.

"If a rule comes in for one code it has to come in for the two codes and the hurleys is a completely different factor. The two water guys in football are just on water whereas the two water guys in hurling have to watch hurleys."

FIXTURES

Friday

Sigerson Cup semi-finals

AIT GAA pitch: DIT v DCU, 12.45, M Duffy (Sligo); AIT v UCC, 2.30, G McCormack (Dublin).

Saturday

Allianz NFL Division 2

Drogheda: Louth v Galway, 2.30, D Fahy (Longford).

Athletic Grounds: Armagh v Wexford, 7.0, J Curley (Meath)

NHL Division 1A

Páirc Uí Rinn: Cork v Tipperary, 7.0, M Wadding (Waterford) *LIVE SETANTA SPORTS 1

Division 1B

Parnell Park: Dublin v Offaly, 7.0, J McGrath (Westmeath).

Sigerson Cup final

AIT: DIT/DCU v AIT/UCC, 3.0, M Deegan (Laois).

Sunday (2.0 unless stated)

M Donnelly (SF) Inter-pro final

(Extra-time if necessary)

Croke Park: Leinster v Ulster, 3.45, P Neilan (Roscommon).

NHL Division 1A

Pearse Stadium: Galway v Kilkenny, D Kirwan (Cork) *LIVE TG4

Cusack Park: Clare v Waterford, J Sexton (Cork) *TG4 Deferred

Division 1B

Dr Cullen Park: Carlow v Wexford, B Gavin (Offaly).

Gaelic Grounds: Limerick v Antrim, J Ryan (Tipperary).

Division 2A

Tralee: Kerry v Westmeath, 1.0, S Hourigan (Limerick).

Celtic Park: Derry v Wicklow, L McAuley (Antrim).

Newbridge: Kildare v Laois, T Carroll (Offaly).

Division 2B

Athletic Grounds: Armagh v London, 1.0, G Duffy (Antrim). Newry: Down v Meath, E Hasson (Derry).

McHale Park: Mayo v Roscommon, J Keane (Galway).

Division 3A

Brewster Park: Fermanagh v Tyrone, J Clarke (Cavan).

Letterkenny: Donegal v Monaghan, B Sweeney (Cavan).

Swords: Fingal v Louth, J Keenan (Wicklow).

All-Ireland club JFC final (Extra-time if necessary)

Croke Park: Ballinasloe (Galway) v Kenmare Shamrocks (Kerry), C Branagan (Down).