Fans call for rule change as Tipperary goal controversially chalked off

Irish Daily Mirror

17 hours ago

GAA fans have called for a rule to be changed after Tipperary's Jason Forde saw a goal ruled out for a square ball offence in the first-half of the All-Ireland hurling final.
Forde thought he had bagged the first goal of the game when he flicked home a long booming ball. However, he was deemed to have been inside the square before the ball entered the square, therefore a square ball was called and the goal was chalked off.
In hurling, a player can only enter the small rectangle and challenge for the ball after the sliotar has already entered the square. If a player enters the square before the ball enters, a square ball is called and a free is awarded to the opposition.
While the rule has been around for many years and is designed to prevent goal-hanging. However, many fans aren't big supporters of the rule.
"Square ball rule is shocking. Just get rid or change it to when the ball is hit," wrote one fan on X.
"Square ball should be when the ball is hit you can enter the square that was a phenomenal goal and touch and it was ruined by a bad rule imo," said another.
The incident has also shown that many fans are still unsure on the rule despite it being in place for decades.
"Square ball is only applicable if you are in the square before the ball was hit unless rule has been changed," to which another user replied "That's only for set pieces. From open play, they can't be in the square from when its hit."
Regardless, Forde wasn't in the square when the ball was struck from a set-piece. However, he did enter the square before the ball, so the call was correct.
And fans that are in the know knew instantly that the decision was a correct one.
"That's the clearest square ball you'll ever see. What are they on about?" posted one fan on X
"Hard to believe there's a discussion about the square ball, open and shut case here," said another.
To make matters worse for Tipp, Shane Barrett netted a goal on the stroker of half-time to put Cork into a 1-16 to 0-13 lead at the break.
However, the men in blue and gold roared into the second-half and lead by two points at the time of writing following a John McGrath goal in the 47th minute.