The GAA announced on Thursday that it will be using a new smart sliotar in the U20 hurling championships.
A chip, smaller than a 10 cent coin, is embedded in the sliotar which can then be read by an app on a smartphone to identify it as an official match ball.
"The Smart Sliotar project aims to ensure that approved Sliotar suppliers adhere to the Sliotar specification set out in the GAA Official Guide and that approved Sliotars perform on a consistent basis," said the GAA.
"In an effective regulatory context, it seeks to address illegal use of the official GAA logo and meets ethical production and supply chain practices as determined by the World Federation of the Sports Goods Industry (WFSGI)."
New smart sliotar for hurling
10 March 2022; In attendance at the smart sliotar launch are, from left, former Galway hurler Eoin McDonagh Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Larry McCarthy and Chairman of the Smart Sliotar Work Group Ned Quinn at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
The new ball is the result of a review and analysis carried out of a special work group which was chaired by Kilkenny's Ned Quinn.
The group, which included the Camogie Association's Louise Conlon, former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, and DCU professor Kieran Moran, met on 22 occasions.
Two field tests involving inter-county players Alan Nolan, Jason Forde and Rory O'Connor were also conducted to test the durability of the chip.
"I want to acknowledge and thank the Work Group for their detailed and evidenced based work which we believe will lead to improvements in sliotar production and performance and I look forward to seeing how the Smart Sliotar performs in next month’s U.20 championships," said GAA president Larry McCarthy.
The U20 hurling championships get underway on April 2nd, and a further review of the sliotar will be carried out after the U20 All-Ireland final.
The new sliotar could be introduced to senior inter-county hurling by next year.
Featured image: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
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