Experienced a new sport yesterday: Hurling.
At first glance, this looks like a bunch of guys carrying baseball bat-like sticks, whacking at a ball in an attempt to get it through a goal post. After a closer look (and two hurling matches later), it’s actually a very fast moving game with 15 players a side carrying hurleys (a.k.a. baseball bat-like sticks, large wooden spoons), hitting a ball over the bar (and through what looks like an American football goal post) for one point or under the bar (and into a net similar to a soccer goal) for three points. This certainly takes some skill to throw the ball up and hit it across the pitch into a goal. Or when the ball goes out of bounds, taking a golf-like swing to send the ball hurling into the goal from across the pitch. Or carrying it on the end of the hurley while running at top speed being whacked with other hurleys. Did I mention that helmets are not required? Yet. I can’t imagine playing broomball without a helmet anymore. One hit to the ice/stick/ball with the helmet on and there is no going back. Not to mention I wouldn’t skip the shin guards and elbow pads.
More than two people described this as the American sport of “losing your lunch”.
The first game was between Limerick and Dublin, with Limerick winning. Second game between Galway and Waterford, with Waterford coming from behind to take the win in the last 5 minutes. The next matches are the semi-finals in Dublin in a couple weeks.
This isn’t from either of the games I went to, but here is a little taste of the sport.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU6SV5OquPM]
Enjoy!