IS it time to extend the black card to the game of hurling? That's the question raised by Tyrone county secretary Dominic McCaughey, who has raised concerns over inconsistencies in disciplinary sanctions between both codes.
McCaughey has reservations over the success of the black card after the initial year of its implementation in football.
But he does feel there is a compelling argument in favour of consistency in the rules governing gaelic games.
"If the black card remains in place for the code of football it will be very difficult to continue to argue against its introduction to hurling," he says in his annual report.
McCaughey feels the extension of the sanction needs to be considered "not just on the basis of the many examples of serious fouls that went unpunished in some of the major Championship games in 2014, but on the grounds that we should have one set of disciplinary rules and sanctions for the same playing infractions in both codes."
The Tyrone official remains unconvinced of the viability of the black card rule, introduced at the start of this year following recommendations from the Football Review Committee.
He is concerned over perceived inconsistencies on the part of referees, but is prepared to reserve judgement.
"At the end of the first year of its implementation, it is probably too early to make a final judgement on its worth due to, in the main to the irregular and sporadic use that has been made of it during football games.
"As with the application of the other two coloured cards, mistakes have been made, but it would appear that the sanctions associated with the black card have been overturned in a much higher percentage of cases than for red or yellow cards."
McCaughey believes referees may become more proficient in their application of the black card rule with greater experience.
"The greatest difficulty that referees appear to have, is in the determination of whether a foul committed has been deliberate. Perhaps, over time and with greater experience this difficulty will be resolved.
"Those who were in favour of the introduction of the black card will remain strongly in favour of it suggesting that it has cleaned up the game and led to greater numbers of scores.
"Those who opposed its introduction probably remain to be convinced that it has achieved anything close to what was promised.
"Many members thought that it was unnecessary to introduce a third coloured card - in addition to the existing yellow and red versions - and that if these two were properly applied at all levels, all fouling could be appropriately dealt with.
"There was another body of opinion contending that before it would be formally introduced, it should have been trialled for a period in the lesser competitions to obtain a proper evaluation of its merits and its faults."