Irish Hurling at Fenway

[Booslum31]

Were you at the SC game in costume?

Yes, and Pitt, and Temple.

 

[dublinirish]

Last time I saw hurling was about 20 years ago and nobody wore helmets but everyone was just as crazy as they still are.

they only recently made helmets with faceguards mandatory in the last few years.

 

[dublinirish]

A high quality game is as good a sporting spectacle as you can get.

i know lacrosse is a growing game in america and around the world but it's such an inferior game to hurling. Plenty of colleges in America have Hurling clubs now; Stanford, Michigan, Indiana, Cal, Wazzu, Idaho State, Denver, Montana, Ohio State, Ball State so hard, Pitt, BC, UConn, GT, UNC, UCF, Southern Carolina..

National Collegiate Gaelic Athletic Association | Promoting Hurling and Gaelic Football on US College Campuses

 

[BGIF]

The first time I saw the sport was on ABC's Wide World of Sports in the late 60's I believe. Jim McKay with an Irish color announcer. McKay was in usual form commenting about the logic of putting giant wooden spoons in the hands of Irishmen and letting them swing away with abandon at the ball or opponent. The color described the hurley in detail and noted it was not legal to swing at another player BUT it was legal to swing at the ball ... and well, if something like flesh and bone got in the way of the swing that was co-lateral damage. No helmets, no pads, I don't think they wore big gloves like hockey and lacrosse players either, just a shirt, shorts, shoes and socks.

They added tidbits of info as the game continued getting into scoring, 1 point between the uprights over the bar and 3 points under the bar. McKay pointed out one particular Irishman who was built like a beer barrel with legs. He noted that this player was a giant in the sport, "the Irish equivalent of Mickey Mantle. He does everything. Great speed, incredible power, sharp passing skills, and solid defense. Mr. Everything!" As McKay is elaborating on that player's accomplishment the the color guy breaks in to pointing out that Irish Mickey Mantle is advancing the ball and is threat to score from beyond midfield. At this point the Irish Mickey Mantle is bowling over defenders like Jim Brown running off tackle, knees and elbows flying while bouncing the ball off the ground ever few steps as the rules require.

McKay breaks back in with, "Looks like Ireland's Mickey Mantle is about to hit one out of the park as the man plants his front foot, bounces the ball a little ovre his head and then proceeds to wind like he's hitting fungo to the outfielders. Just before he makes contact with the ball, a defender takes a swing like Reggie Jackson in October hitting Irish Mickey Mantle squarely in the nuts with the business end of his 3 foot long wooden spoon. Irish Mickey Mantle drops like a rock, motionless on the field. Mckay notes, "Wow he took a shot to his ... er groin, that's gotta hurt."

Calmly the Irish color guys interjects describing the rules dealing with injuries as the camera follows the action from one end of the field then back towards the other panning quickly over the still motionless Irish Mickey Mantle. "Jim, in hurling the action continues until there's a break in play. The Irish are a tough lot and if you get injured you just tough it out ... as the camera pans over Irish Mickey Mantle for the 3rd or 4th time now in a fetal position counting his change and gasping for breath. Finally his team's medical personal run out onto the field, roll him onto a stretcher and carry him off.

Incredibly the guy came back to play in the game although he didn't quite run like a deer anymore.

 

[dublinirish]

urban mythology here, have heard this story plenty of times

A guy I know was doing hurling camps in the states a few years back and when he was walking home from training a drug addict pulled a knife and and demanded his wallet. My friend told the mugger he wanted no trouble and said he had to go to his gear bag to get his wallet. He pulled out his hurl and hit the mugger with it. The cops quickly arrived to defuse the situation and when they asked the mugger what happened he said 'I was just minding my business and this white boy attacked me with a big motherfuckin spoon'

 

[nlroma1o]

I wouldn't think Fenway is big enough to fit a hurling match. Isn't a hurling pitch like 140 yds by 100 yds? Or something like that. I just remember its a massive pitch. Damn near the size of a cricket oval.

 

[dublinirish]

I wouldn't think Fenway is big enough to fit a hurling match. Isn't a hurling pitch like 140 yds by 100 yds? Or something like that. I just remember its a massive pitch. Damn near the size of a cricket oval.

they played a modified version called Super 11's which is designed to be played on american football fields. Less players per side/rolling sub's and no points, just goals as they use soccer goals.

here's what a football gridiron looks like on a hurling field

 

[nlroma1o]

they played a modified version called Super 11's which is designed to be played on american football fields. Less players per side/rolling sub's and no points, just goals as they use soccer goals.

here's what a football gridiron looks like on a hurling field

I knew Hurling pitches were freaking massive. So I figured they had to be doing something like this. Makes sense now.

 

[dublinirish]

I knew Hurling pitches were freaking massive. So I figured they had to be doing something like this. Makes sense now.

pretty big alright but small compared to an Aussie Rules Oval