Gearoid Hegarty is adamant that VAR isn’t needed in the GAA.
Some Clare fans would have welcomed the use of technology on Sunday, to adjudicate on two controversial square balls that went against them but regardless of that, the general consensus seems to be that VAR wouldn’t be welcome in the GAA.
Limerick star Gearoid Hegarty is adamant that there is no place for VAR in the game.
As a big Liverpool fan, Hegarty has been frustrated by the path soccer has gone down since the introduction of the video assistant.
“I would hate it. I would hate it,” Bord Gais ambassador Hegarty told The GAA Hour on Monday, fresh from winning man-of-the-match against Clare on Sunday.
“I’m a big soccer fan and I find VAR the most draining, horrible thing that’s ever been introduced into soccer.
“I actually stopped watching soccer for a while when VAR came in orginally.
“Because I just find it so draining and boring when you’re waiting on the VAR and then they’re splitting hairs over a centimetre here or a centimetre there. I absolutely can not stand it,” he said.
“I think it’s something the GAA should never go down the line of.
“It’s not what the game was developed on. I didn’t watch The Sunday Game last night but someone was saying that there were eight or ten different camera angles to see if someone was in the square.
“If we go down that line of things, I’d lose a lot of interest in it as I did in soccer for a while.
“I think they’re coming out the other side of it in soccer a little bit in that they’re handling it a bit better but I hate it to be honest with you.”
Limerick were forced to dig deep to overcome Clare in their first round Munster Championship clash, with Hegarty’s four points from play proving crucial.
“We’ve had great battles with them over the years.
“You knew it was going to be a 50:50 battle. When we were under pressure in the second half, we just had to hang in there, wait for the opportunities to arise, which they did.”
Limerick have little time to rest on their laurels, with Tipperary coming up this weekend and Hegarty says this week will be all about recovery.
“The day after is always tough. As the week goes on, you’ll get better and better.
“I’m looking forward to training tomorrow night to getting back into the swing of things preparing for Sunday. You’re always a little bit better after a win, the bruises heal a bit quicker after a win.
“We’ll do a little bit this week.
“The main emphasis will be recovering as best as you can, eating well, sleeping well, doing the basics right. I might try get a swim in on the way home there. Getting on with the day job in the morning as a teacher, so that will be it.”
