Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "The constant overcarrying involved in 'breaking the tackle' is a problem in hurling. It would be a much better game if referees were schooled on enforcing the 4step rule rigorously, and trained rigorously too on spotting and implementing this RULE. The silly scoring rates we see these days would be reduced a bit, and defenders would actually have more of a chance to do their jobs than they do currently. Martin Brehony in today's indo hits on this very scoring topic, highlighting the drastic surge in scoring that the sport has seen at championship level in the last few decades. He thinks it diminishes the game. For once, I'd tend to agree. It is way too easy to score in hurling these days, and the game would be enhanced imo ( for defenders and defending and viewers surely), if the step rule was rigorously enforced at all levels."

Replying To Crashingwaves:  "I recall a goal scored by Fergal Healy in an All Ireland Final that was instantly disallowed because he took 4 steps! Some years previously, 1990 I think, a Cork forward took 9 steps and the goal was allowed. Galway lost both of those finals!"

Replying To foreveryoung:  "The emphasis now is on both bulk and brawn rather AND fast skillful wrist work. And players are given sufficient protection-far more protected than in the old days, when helmets weren't even required. The game and players have never been better than now. Even the immortal Ring said in his time that the greatest players were the ones yet to come. In every era, you will always have players that will be considered greats and all-time greats of the game. Look at Joachim Kelly, when he was hurling for Offaly in the 1970's, 80's, and into the 90's was he hurling because he thought that he might one day be inducted into the Leinster Hurling Hall of Fame, which I'm glad to see happen? NO! He was hurling first, because he enjoyed it, second for himself, next for his jersey and his team and teammates, his locality and its people, and then for the county and as it happened later for the province. He is rightly considered a great of the game, but that's never the reason a young lad picks up a hurley or laces up a pair of football boots.

Borrowing from other sports can be a blessing or a curse. The hooter seems to be working well in football. Penalties for the Munster final were what they were, and each team knew in advance about their possibility of happening. They were also exciting when happening, but I think a better way could be found. Seventies, or sixty-fives as the young crowd call them, would even be a better option in my opinion, for the game of hurling. But again, as a very last resort, before more feasible options would have been considered."