Nenagh Éire Óg handpass motion set for National Congress after passing at Tipp GAA Convention

Nenagh Éire Óg’s motion to introduce a new handpass rule in hurling passed with resounding support at last Saturday’s annual Tipperary GAA County Convention in the Dome, Thurles.

Championed once again by Nenagh Éire Óg member and former All-Ireland-winning Tipperary hurler Conor O’Donovan, the motion was carried with ease after a comprehensive and impassioned speech from the former Premier full-back.

Over the last five years, two-time All-Ireland winner O’Donovan has campaigned strongly for the handpass to be cleared up and has proposed that the transfer of the ball from the same hand that is holding the ball be outlawed.

Via his club Nenagh Éire Óg, O’Donovan and similarly-minded hurling followers fashioned the rule change motion, which narrowly failed to be carried at last year’s Tipperary convention.

In September 2022, the GAA’s Standing Committee on Playing Rules shared statistical findings from the hurling season that revealed that an average of 1.7 illegal handpasses per game in league and championship were being pulled by referees, based on 58 fouls in 34 games analysed.

An additional 27 instances (0.8), where the ball appeared to be thrown, were documented.

However, on this occasion, the support for the motion was unanimous with the vast majority of delegates in situ in the Dome raising their hands in support of the rule, which has been trialled this year to reasonable support in the Higher Education Freshers Hurling League in Third Level competition.

The motion stated that “Nenagh Éire Óg GAA Club proposes the introduction of an additional Technical Foul - Rule 4.2 (c) which will state that it is a foul to either handpass the ball or palm the ball directly from the same hand that is holding the ball.” During an address to delegates, O’Donovan highlighted the extensive media coverage which has been garnered around the amount of handpassing and illegal handpassing that is currently pervasive in the modern game.

In particular, he quoted former Tipperary hurling manager Liam Sheedy during coverage of a Munster Championship game in April 2022, when he said: “It’s impossible to ask referees to adjudge.” In essence, O’Donovan believes that the policing of the rule is close to impossible in today’s game and his steadfast pursuit of this motion highlighted that fact.

Shannon Rovers delegate Liam Hogan spoke in support of O’Donovan’s motion, which was added to by Cumann na mBunscol representative from Clonmel, Gerry McDonnell, who both voiced their “support of the Nenagh Éire Óg motion,” they both said.
“Realistically, there is only one other way to eliminate ball throwing from hurling and that is to ban handpassing outright,” O’Donovan said.

He finished by saying, “Tipperary is known as the Premier County, the home of hurling, and Nenagh Éire Óg is once again calling on all GAA clubs in the county and the officers of the County Board to take a lead on this issue by approving this motion for submission to Congress, to eliminate throwing from hurling,” he finished.

With the motion successfully passed, O’Donovan will now proceed with a mind to creating awareness around the fledgling rule, for the body of the standing playing rule to take notice ahead of going to Congress in 2025 when clubs can next propose playing rules changes.