Kalie Elise's Blog: Hurling Match

So on Sunday some of the group went to a Hurling game. Apparently this game is only played here in Ireland. Before going to the game I had to look up what exactly hurling was... and this is what I found:

Hurling is believed to be the world’s oldest field game. When the Celts came to Ireland as the last ice age was receding, they brought with them a unique culture, their own language, music, script and unique pastimes. One of these pastimes was a game now called hurling. It features in Irish folklore to illustrate the deeds of heroic mystical figures and it is chronicled as a distinct Irish pastime for at least 2,000 years. The stick, or "hurley" (called camán in Irish) is curved outwards at the end, to provide the striking surface. The ball or "sliotar" is similar in size to a hockey ball but has raised ridges. Hurling is played on a pitch that can be up to 145m long and 90m long. The goalposts are similar to those used on a rugby pitch, with the crossbar lower than in rugby and slightly higher than a soccer one. You may strike the ball on the ground, or in the air. Unlike hockey, you may pick up the ball with your hurley and carry it for not more than four steps in the hand. After those steps you may bounce the ball on the hurley and back to the hand, but you are forbidden to catch the ball more than twice. To get around this, one of the skills is running with the ball balanced on the hurley To score, you put the ball over the crossbar with the hurley or under the crossbar and into the net by the hurley for a goal, the latter being the equivalent of three points. Each team is made up of 15 players with match officials.

We went up to cork to watch Waterford play Tiperary. I have to say it was extremely fun! There were 26,000 people there and they all so intense and supportive of their 'boys'. Waterford ended up losing by 6 points. All in all it was a really good game, Waterford came out strong in the first half but lost it in the latter. They just missed some shots they shouldn't have. I have to say this game was extremely violent compared to what I expected. During the match 2 fight broke out during the game among the players.... and the funny thing is the refs didn't rush to break it up... it was like they were letting them fight it out. Very entertaining!