Take Your Points: Brian McFall first guest of new series

FORMER Antrim hurler Brian McFall said that there is nothing wrong with the game of hurling and any rule changes are completely unnecessary.

McFall makes his comments in the first episode of the new series of Gaelic Life’s GAA chat show, Take Your Points, which will be broadcast this weekend.

During a discussion about hurling rules, McFall was asked about the comments made by Limerick hurling manager John Kiely last weekend after their 0-26 to 1-17 defeat to Galway. Kiely said that he felt that there were too many fouls called for tackling during the game.

McFall said that he agreed with Kiely and he felt that the referees have been told to be stricter on their judgement of fouls. McFall, who is the current St John’s hurling manager, and who is also helping Johnny McIntosh and Karl McKeegan with the Antrim u-20s, said that in a recent club match for his own club, he saw a string of fouls called that broke up the flow of the game.

The former Saffron said that he had sympathy for referees though, who were under pressure to implement the rules strictly, although he felt that it was to the detriment of the game.

McFall was on the show to also discuss the current form of the Antrim hurlers after their first two performances in the league, when they beat Clare in round one and put it up to Kilkenny in round two. The St John’s man said that he believes that Antrim will fully believe that they can compete at the top level.

Also on the show, Gaelic Life columnist Gerard O’Kane looks at the opening round of the league and gives his opinion on the Ulster teams.

Meanwhile, Shane Elliott looks at the performances of all the Ulster teams, as well as explaining why he thinks the Antrim hurlers have impressed in their first two games.

Watch this week’s show on NVTV (channel 7 freeview, channel 159 Virgin), or watch it now via You tube.