GAA to follow rugby’s lead with new bonus-point system in underage hurling

This could be a game-changer.

The idea of bonus points in GAA is relatively new, and one fans have not taken huge notice of. Up until now. The proposition that scoring 'x amount of goals', or losing by a margin of 'less than y' could be beneficial to you has yet to rear its head in the GAA and has never been discussed seriously at Congress. The system is a massive success in professional rugby, and there has long been a discussion of how it would impact on the annual Six Nations if it was introduced. European Test rugby might be a bit slow on the uptake, but Croke Park looks to be leading the way with plans for an ambitious underage hurling event this summer. The Celtic Challenge was officially launched this morning, and the GAA has confirmed that the competition, which is aimed at hurlers of 16 and 17, but not sitting any State Examinations, will trial a number of new initiatives. The competition will see 38 teams from across 31 counties (everyone bar Fermanagh) take part, and the key talking point is sure to be the use of a bonus-point system for teams in the group stage. The scoring system will see teams awarded a bonus point if they score two or more goals, while there will also be a losing bonus point for teams defeated by a margin of five points or less. The competition will encourage referees and officials to visit both dressing rooms before games, while referees will also choose a ‘Best and Fairest Award’ for a player on each team after the game. The practice of substitutions will also be altered, with players now interchanged, rather than permanently subbed off during the matches. The changes are likely to be welcomed by most teams and fans, with the competition getting underway on May 4th, and culminating in the five divisional finals in Nowlan Park on June 18th. In 2012 Dublin hurler Niall Corcoran did ask the GAA to look at a similar system in the National Hurling League after the Dubs lost out on a place in the knockout stages following several narrow defeats. He told The Sun at the time:

“Yes I think anything that would encourage more attacking and positive play should be looked at. I think if there was a point like that you would see counties going to the very end. "It would make the league better. And teams would be rewarded if they missed out on the result but put in a big performance."

This summer's experiment will go a long way to seeing how such a system works, and impacts on games and players. It's certainly a positive move, and one that may suggest a radical change in how teams approach league games, even where there is seeming dead rubbers on the card.