From Gaelic Games to soccer, rarely a week goes by without some controversy over a disallowed goal or point, which, inevitably, leads one set of angry supporters or another pleading for goal line technology to be introduced.

Next Tuesday, Tuam man Liam Kilmartin, a lecturer with the School of Engineering and Informatics at NUI Galway, will enter the debate when he gives a public talk entitled ‘A score or not a score – that is the question!’ in room ENG 3035 in the new state-of-the-art Engineering Building in the College (6pm).

A leading expert on sports technology, in particular score detection systems, Mr Kilmartin endorses the use of such technology, but warns that technology alone will not solve every problem that presents itself in competitive games.

For example, he believes goal line technology would not have solved the controversies surrounding Meath’s dramatic win over Louth in the 2010 Leinster final, compliments of a very controversial goal, or averted the infamous Thierry Henry handball incident which led to the Republic of Ireland losing out to France by a single goal in the 2009 World Cup qualification play-offs.

“Take the Leinster final in 2010, Meath and Louth, where the ball was bundled over the line,” Mr. Kilmartin says. “The issue wasn’t the ball being over the line, it was a question of was the rules broken? So, there still has to be judgement calls and interpretations on what the rules are.

However, he notes that technology does have a place in sport and he describes the well-known Hawk-Eye system as “impressive”.
“Technology is only used as a decision aiding tool. It doesn’t have the final say. Largely because, is it really accurate enough that it can be solely used as a decision maker? Or should it just be there as an aid to the fourth official in the stands.”

See full interview in Talking Sport, in this week's Connacht Tribune.