Listen to the full debate via the podcast above

Before Christmas former Kilkenny star Eddie Keher delivered a document to Croke Park calling for the abolition of yellow and red cards in hurling.

Keher made the point that yellow and red cards were replicated from soccer, introduced to that sport for the 1970 World Cup to address the language barrier. 

Cards were first introduced to the GAA in 1999, and Keher believes that is the reason why cynicism has crept into hurling.

In a return to pre-99 methods, a player found to have committed an act of dangerous play, resulting in minor injury, would be warned, have his name taken as well as a free being called against him.

A repeat offence and he would be sent off. A player who deliberately strikes an opponent with the intent to injure would be dismissed.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has since backed Keher's proposals.

Our own Diarmuid 'Gizzy' Lyng and Colm 'Wooly' Parkinson debated the issue in studio with Joe.

"Realistically this comes off the back of Henry Shefflin getting two yellow cards last year, Patrick Horgan getting a pretty soft red cards as well. Bureaucratically if a helmet is struck, you get a red card. This is the focus they have on yellow and red cards," said Gizzy who added:

"You have to look at the fact that a call to take back the card and the levels of infractions, suits Kilkenny down to the ground and suits the Kilkenny, Dublin and Galway model of hurling where they are more physical. In Clare and Cork it looks like hurling is developing differently with an evasive style."

Wooly feels hurling "shouldn't be above rules" and also disagreed strongly with Keher's belief that cynical play has increased in hurling since 1999. He also said that it was a "storm in a teacup and Cody shouldn't have got involved with it."

But we also sought the counsel of former Offaly hurler Daithi Regan.

"I personally don't think there is an awful lot wrong with the game of hurling. I think Wooly is totally off when he says this is a Kilkenny agenda. The best hurling finals I have seen are the ones Kilkenny are involved in with Tipp both years. Hurling does not need this over-policing view that has happened since [former referee] Pat McEnaney has come in."

 

Image: Henry Shefflin of Kilkenny recieves a second yellow card and then a red from referee Barry Kelly and is sent off ©INPHO/Donall Farmer