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Hurling

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For the Cornish sport of hurling, see Hurling the Silver Ball.
Irish postage stamp which portrays hurling
Irish postage stamp which portrays hurling

Hurling (Irish, Iomáint) is an outdoor team sport of Celtic origin, played with sticks and a ball. The game, played primarily in Ireland, is arguably the world's fastest field team sport in terms of game play (however the ball travels faster in other field games such as hockey). It resembles the games of shinty that is played primarily in Scotland, cammag on the Isle of Man and bandy that was played formerly in England and Wales. Hurling played by women is also known as camogie. Hurling is one of Ireland's native sports. Hurling became Ice Hockey at King's College School for Boys in Windsor, Nova Scotia around 1800.

Game

Hurley and sliotar (hurling stick and ball)

The objective of this field game is for one of two teams to score more goals and points, during a match, than the other. A team comprises 15 players: notionally, one goalkeeper, six defenders (comprising two banks of three players), two midfielders and six forwards (again comprising two banks of three players). The field is 154 yards (140 m) long and between 80 to 90 m wide, significantly larger than a soccer or rugby pitch. A match lasts 70 minutes, comprising two halves with an interval between them.

Scoring is done by sending the sliotar (ball) between the oppositions goal posts, be it over or under the cross bar. The skill of players comes from their ability and speed in controlling the ball. The posts, which are at each end of the field, are "H" posts as in rugby football but with a net under the crossbar as in soccer. The posts are seven yards (6.37 m) apart and the crossbar is seven feet (2.12 m) above the ground. Three points are scored when players send the ball under the crossbar into the goal area while one point is scored when players send the ball over the crossbar.

The stick, which is known as a hurley or camán, is made traditionally from the root of the Ash tree and is generally 25–38 inches (64–97 cm) in length with a flat face opposite its handle called a bas. The ball, which is known as a sliotar, is made of leather and is 2.55 inches (65 mm) in diameter. The goalkeeper's hurley has a bas twice the size of other players' hurleys to provide some advantage for the fast moving sliotar. A good strike with a stick can propel the ball up to 93 mph (150 km per hour) in speed and 262 feet (80 m) in distance.

During a match, players attack their opposing goal and protect their own. When the ball is on the ground, it must be played by striking or lifting it off the ground with the hurley into the air where it may be struck again or placed into the hand for four seconds or four steps, whichever comes first. If the ball is caught, the catching player may not throw it or carry it for the shorter of four paces or four seconds, but is allowed to strike the ball with a stick or hand, or by kicking. The hurley's bas may be used to carry the ball while a player controls it, but usually requires great skill. Players may be tackled but not struck with a stick. There are several forms of acceptable tackling, the three most popular being:

  1. the block, where one player attempts to smother an opposing players strike by trapping the ball between his hurley and the opponent's swinging hurley;
  2. the hook, where a player approaches another player from a rear angle and attempts to catch the opponent's hurley with his own at the top of the swing; and
  3. the side pull, where two players running together for the sliotar will collide at the shoulders and swing together to win the tackle.

Accidental collisions between players and equipment do occur and, so a protective helmet, although not mandatory, is recommended.

History

Hurling was first mentioned in a description of the 14th century BC Battle of Moytura where the Tuatha Dé Danann defeated the Fir Bolg in a match and, later, in a battle. Hurling has also been mentioned in several other old Irish sources since and the game has enjoyed popularity through the ages.

The strongest hurling teams have come from the counties of Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary but teams such as Clare, Galway, Limerick, Offaly, Waterford and Wexford have become prominent or re-emerged since the 1980s. County Antrim in northeast Ireland is considered an isolated "hurling county" but has never won the Liam McCarthy Cup.

Significant hurling matches are those between the counties of Ireland in each of the four national provinces. Up to the end of the 1990s, the provincial champions played-off in the semi-finals for the right to compete in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final that takes place annually in September at Croke Park in Dublin. In recent times the championship has opened up to include a group stage and quarter-finals.

Since 1884, hurling has been governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The most important match is the GAA All-Ireland Intercounty Championship which takes place annually in a modified knock-out format. The final matches are played at Croke Park and regularly attract attendances of up to 83,000 people.

National and international

Although many hurling clubs exist worldwide, only Ireland has a national team. It and the Scotland shinty team have played for many years with modified match rules. The match is the only such international competition. However, competition at club level in growing in Europe with teams in several countries including one in Zurich which was created and set up by Swiss people alone.

Today hurling remains an entirely amateur sport. None of the players or managers are paid, although the Gaelic Players Association has been set up by county players to gain a small payment for the time and effort they put into the game.

Major hurling competitions

Famous players

Hurling in North America

In North America there are leagues in many cities. The oldest and largest league is the Milwaukee Hurling Club, but leagues can be found across the entire continent. The North American Gaelic Athletic Association helps promote hurling in North America, arrange matches between leagues and helps people start or locate a hurling club.

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