Kildare manager David Herity has joined the chorus of voices criticising the implementation of hurling's new advantage rule.
The former Kilkenny hurler warned that the revised interpretation of the advantage rule pleases nobody and it threatens to have a negative impact on the game.
"I thought it was shocking," asserted Herity on Tuesday's OTB AM after the opening weekend of National Hurling League action. "I can't get my head around it."
According to the rule which was revised at this year's GAA Congress, referees are now encouraged to blow for a free, rather than allow play to develop, if a foul occurs within shooting range.
Due to commence their own campaign against Donegal in Division 2B this weekend, the Kildare boss does not understand how a slowing down of the game such as this will be beneficial.
"If you're playing against a stronger team you're going to bring your forward out from full-forward and you could spend a minute and a half there standing over a free," he warned, "and then back in again.
"It will slow up the game hugely and I don't see why that rule was changed."
Crediting the good sense behind the new sin-bin rule for cynical fouling, he is adamant that hurling faces a serious challenge, nevertheless.
"I think it is going to kill the game," he suggested. "I haven't heard one positive comment about the whole thing."
Indeed, after bringing in a referee for an in-house Kildare game recently, David Herity admitted that even he had had his reservations about the change.
"He couldn't honestly understand why it was put in place," he explained, "but that's it, they'll obey the rules and do what they're doing.
"I think it will put huge pressure on referees and even on Sunday you were nearly getting into a VAR situation of, 'Yeah, he was dragged back but there was still three defenders...'
"It is going to cause a lot of confusion and it will all come down to the referee on the day."
After receiving such negative feedback on the returning week of inter-county hurling action, Herity does remain partially hopeful that the GAA's decision makers will revisit the change before championship hurling commences later this year.
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