Hooter Failure Creates Confusing Scenes During Tailteann Cup Clash

The hooter system suffered another awkward setback on Sunday as technical issues forced officials to abandon its use during Leitrim's Tailteann Cup defeat to Wexford in Carrick-on-Shannon.

The match, which Wexford eventually won after surviving a spirited second-half comeback from the hosts, saw the second-half played without the aid of the hooter and stadium clock after problems emerged with the system.

Instead, referee Barry Cassidy was required to keep time manually and indicate added time in the traditional manner.

The issue comes just a couple of weeks after confusion surrounding the hooter system in the Leinster football final between Dublin and Westmeath, where the hooter failed to sound at the end of the first half and referee David Coldrick was forced to blow for half-time after being informed through his communications system that time had elapsed.

In Carrick-on-Shannon, the malfunction meant officials dispensed with the system altogether and reverted to conventional timekeeping.

Wexford were utterly dominant in the opening half, racing into a commanding 0-14 to 0-0 lead by the interval.

Leitrim struggled badly throughout the first 35 minutes, registering four wides and dropping three efforts short while Wexford repeatedly punished mistakes and moved the ball with impressive fluency.

Niall Hughes, Páiric Hughes and Eoghan Nolan were among the chief contributors as Wexford put one foot in the Tailteann Cup quarter-finals before half-time.

The hosts finally came to life after the break.

Ruairí O'Rourke got them off the mark within a minute of the restart, while Oisín McLoughlin kicked three two-pointers to suddenly breathe life into a contest that had looked over.

Wexford responded through Niall Hughes, Michael Kinsella and Mark Rossiter, but Leitrim continued to battle and gave themselves hope when Jack Kelly rifled a 20-metre free to the net with less than five minutes remaining.

Despite Leitrim's late rally, Wexford had built enough of a cushion to survive, with Rossiter landing the final score of the afternoon from a close-range free.

However, the biggest talking point outside the result may prove to be yet another issue involving the hooter system.

Introduced as part of the FRC's rule changes to bring greater clarity to the end of halves, it has already experienced several high-profile teething problems.

Sunday's malfunction in Carrick-on-Shannon ensured that, for one afternoon at least, the old-fashioned method of a referee keeping time himself was once again required.