GAA Hurling and Gaelic Football

Since I have been over here, there isn't much to watch on TV, but there is an all sports channel and they broadcast the hurling and gaelic football matches.

Let me tell you this, you have not seen a real sport until you have watched either of these.

Hurling seriously is the best game ever. A team consists of 15 players, and they each have a hurley (the stick they play with). No helmets have to be worn if you are over the age of 18. So basically you have the 30 players on the field and they pretty much just run around trying to score goals...there is a standard field arrangement, but I haven't learned about that. The ball is called a sliothar and has a cork center and is about as big as a baseball, but the stitching makes an edge on it so that it is easier to carry on the hurley. The game consists of 2 halves, each lasting for 35 minutes. Hurling is the fastest played field game in the entire world. From what I can tell there are many things that could be considered a foul, even though the players trip, hit, and pull down their opponents. It is so crazy too because even when they are knocked down or hit they just pop right back up and keep going!!! There are two ways to score a point. If you get it through the net (like a soccer goal, only a little lower) then that gets you a "goal" which is worth 3 points. If you get the ball through the goal posts, above the net, that gives you a point.

Then we have gaelic football, which is quite similar, only they play with a ball similar to a soccer ball. However, they are allowed to carry, kick, or throw the ball. The scoring system is the same as in hurling, and it seems to be a bit more violent...they seem to see how much they can get away with without getting called on it. And it is so crazy because they will be a 1/4 of the way down the field away from their goal, and they kick it and it goes in!!! It's insane! but really fun to watch.

Both of these games are "real men sports" and I hope I can find them online to watch when I return home. If you ever get the chance to watch a hurling match, please do so, you'll be glad you did!