Technology specialists; DMF Systems, has developed technology to authenticate sliotar balls to ensure they conform to official GAA specifications.

Dublin, 15th March 2022, GAA Headquarters in Croke Park has announced that the Smart Sliotar is to be trialled in the forthcoming GAA Under 20 Hurling Championships. DMF Systems developed the technology solution utilising embedded NFC (Near Field Communication) tags to authenticate the sliotars and to confirm conformance to GAA Sliotar specifications. This will ensure consistency in sliotar performance as well as verifying that the sliotar meets ethical standards of manufacture.

DMF Systems partnered with the GAA in the development of the Smart Sliotar. This included drawing up the specification for an NFC tag using GS1 identification standards. DMF Systems also designed the mobile phone app and the data handling infrastructure which will allow referees and other GAA officials to validate sliotar authenticity using their mobile phones pitch side.

“We are delighted that the Smart Sliotar is being trialled in the upcoming Inter-County Under 20 Championship as this is a significant step on the road to ensure that all sliotars used in competition conform to the official GAA specification. This is great news for the game of hurling as it will promote greater consistency of performance which is exactly what players and supporters are looking for,” shares Declan FitzGerald, Managing Director, DMF Systems.

The Smart Sliotar has undergone many rounds of testing to arrive at this stage. This included a series of laboratory tests and field test sessions to ensure the durability of the NFC tag under consistent high-impact and repeat usage conditions.

The opening round of the Under 20 Hurling championship will throw in on the 2nd of April which will see the Smart Sliotar utilised for the very first time in the opening round of the Leinster GAA Under 20 championship.

About DMF Systems

DMF Systems delivers trusted software solutions to healthcare providers. Since 1998, DMF Systems has helped hospitals and laboratories to improve their efficiency, service and performance through innovative digital healthcare applications. Experts in the area of integration, DMF Systems deliver world-class software solutions including Laboratory Communication Solutions (MediBRIDGE), Clinical Information Systems (e.g. GeneCIS Clinical Portal, eDischarge, ICU Clinical Audit, ICU National Bed Information System and GeneCIS Unify), Hospital Administration and Patient Identification Systems.