Could be see VAR in GAA?
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What is Ciarán Kilkenny’s proposal for introducing technology into the GAA?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk. With Aviva Insurance.
Ciarán Kilkenny, an eight-time All-Ireland winner with Dublin, has suggested a way to bring technology into the GAA. And questions have often been raised about the use of video reviews, with the most recent incident being the goal that wasn't between Kerry and Dublin in the semi-final last month. So, should it be brought in? And if so, how would it work? To chat through their thoughts on this, I'm now joined by former Mayo footballer Austin O'Malley. Austin, you're very welcome to the programme.
Thanks for having me.
So do you agree with Ciarán Kilkenny?
Why does Austin O’Malley think a challenge system could improve refereeing decisions?
Is it time to introduce more technology into the game to ensure that we're getting reviews of refs' decisions right?
I think definitely it's, look, it's a debate worth having and I think this is the ideal opportunity really for maybe the GA to revisit this. I think probably from the season gone, there's been a number of incidents and I think there are a number of incidents of old as well, even if we go back to the 2024 All-Ireland Club Final, St Thomas' and our Loughlin Gales. There was a key decision made in that where our Loughlin Gales didn't get a goal and obviously it was a one-point swing to the victors. So we're getting more of these incidents and I think it's probably on the back of obviously the game is speeded up and particularly from a football perspective I think since the new rules it's literally a new game and the pace and the ferocity that's played I think that the game has got to evolve on a technology front as well and for me it's a no-brainer I think we have Hawkeye in three of our major stadiums at the moment so I don't see why we shouldn't have goal line assisted technology as well to complement that and to get the balance right so
I would definitely be on for that. I suppose the VAR maybe and the TMO conversation is a broader one at the moment as well.
Let's just go back to what Ciarán was suggesting because he said we need a challenge system and anybody who watched Wimbledon in particular during the month of June will have seen that the players have a sort of finite number of opportunities which they can challenge a ref's decision. Would that work?
How would a limited‑challenge system work in practice for Gaelic football?
Yeah, I think it would be a great start. And again, for a challenge system to be there, it would probably intimidate that there would be some level of technology sitting behind it that perhaps the referee does have somebody sitting upstairs in Crow Park or something that has access to all the different angles and that he can go and review that then if it's the team captain or the actual manager. So I think that would be a good one because obviously, look, I mean, there's human error involved in all of these things. And as I've alluded to earlier, the game is so quick. and judgements have to be made in a split second, that I think that would be a nice out and it would give a little bit of breathing space as well for the actual referee to, you know, just to take a moment, a pause and reflect and revisit, you know, a key, key decision that could really turn a game on its head as well.
So I would be in favour of that.
So how would you see that work then in practice, Austin? Are you saying let's give the manager of the team or the captain of the team maybe three opportunities throughout the game to challenge a decision?
Yeah, well, I think the number, and probably that's open for debate as well, but certainly even if it was two per game, that you could actually, that it could be signalled from the sideline that you wanted to challenge a call and that the ref could, as I said, take a pause and review it. I don't think that would slow the game down significantly, but there are some major, major calls that have major, major bearings on games.
What are the potential drawbacks of a full VAR system for fast‑paced GAA games?
And generally everybody involved within the game are trying to do it in the right spirit. And I think that goes from both sides, from the referee end. and teams and captains and managers perspective so I think it is it would be a good one and I don't think it would be as cumbersome maybe as a VAR where you get to challenge every decision or he goes back over everyone but I think it would smarten up the whole thing definitely and it would bring a little bit more accountability into it
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is Ciarán Kilkenny’s proposal for introducing technology into the GAA?
0:01–0:42
2
Why does Austin O’Malley think a challenge system could improve refereeing decisions?
0:42–2:10
3
How would a limited‑challenge system work in practice for Gaelic football?
2:10–3:32
4
What are the potential drawbacks of a full VAR system for fast‑paced GAA games?
3:32–5:18
5
How can technology support officials without slowing down the flow of the match?
5:18–6:01
6
What final thoughts do the hosts share about the future of tech in Gaelic sport?
6:01–6:48
Speakers
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