Hurling
(in Irish, iománaíocht or iomáint)
is an outdoor team sport of Celtic origin, administered
by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and 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. When played
by women it is known as camogie. One of Ireland's native
sports, it shares a number of features with Gaelic football,
such as the field and goals, number of players, and much
terminology.
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, or "hurlers."
The stick, which is
known as a hurley or camán, is made traditionally from
the root of the Ash tree and is generally 70–100 cm (32–36
inches) 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 6.5 cm (2.5 inches) in diameter. The goalkeeper's hurley
has a bas twice the size of other players' hurleys to provide
some advantage against the fast moving sliotar. A good strike
with a stick can propel the ball up to 150 km/h (93 mph) in speed
and 100 m (305 ft) in distance.
The sliotar may be struck
with the hurley from the ground, or it may be caught in the hand
before being struck with the hurley or "hand-passed" (see
below). Kicking the sliotar is also permitted, but the ball is
difficult to kick much beyond 10 m (11 yd).
Accidental collisions
between players and equipment do occur and so a plastic protective
helmet with faceguard is recommended (mandatory for players under
21).
Officials
A hurling match is watched over by 8 officials:
The referee
Two linesmen
Sideline Official/Standby Linesman (inter-county games only)
Four umpires (two at each end)
The referee is responsible for starting and stopping play, recording the score,
awarding frees and booking and sending off players.
Linesmen are responsible for indicating the direction of line balls to the
referee.
The fourth official is responsible for overseeing substitutions, and also indicating
the amount of stoppage time (signalled to him by the referee) and the players
substituted using an electronic board.
The umpires are responsible for judging the scoring. They indicate to the referee
whether a shot was: wide (spread both arms), a 65 m puck (raise one arm), a
point (wave white flag), or a goal (wave green flag).
All officials are also supposed to indicate to the referee anything he may
have missed, although this is a rare occurrence. The referee can over-rule
any decision by a linesman or umpire.
History
Legendary
origins
Fragments of law predating the Brehon Laws refer to hurling and may have been
written before AD 400.
The tale of
the Táin Bó Cuailgne (drawing on earlier legends)
describes the hero Cúchulainn playing hurling at Eoghain
Macha. Similar tales are told about Fionn Mac Cumhail and the
Fianna, his legendary warrior band.
Meallbreatha
describes punishments for injuring a player in several games,
most of which resemble hurling.
The Seanchás
Mór commentaries on the Brehon Law state that the son
of a rí (local king) could have his hurley hooped in bronze,
while others could only use copper. It was illegal to confiscate
a hurley.
13th century
Statute of Kilkenny forbids hurling due to excessive violence, stating further
that the English settlers of the Pale would be better served to practice archery
and fencing in order to repel the attacks of the Gaelic Clans.
15th century
A 15th century grave slab survives in Inishowen, County Donegal dedicated to
the memory of a Scottish gallowglass warrior named Manas Mac Mhoiresdean of
Iona. The slab displays carvings of a claymore, a hurley (stick), and a sliotar.
16th century
1527: Statute recorded in Galway City: "At no time to use ne occupy ye
hurling of ye litill balle with the hookie sticks or staves, nor use no hand
balle to play without the walls, but only the great foot balle."
1587: Lord
Chancellor William Gerrarde complains that English settlers of
the Munster Plantation are speaking Irish and playing hurling.
18th century
The Eighteenth Century is frequently referred to as "The Golden Age of
Hurling." Members of the Anglo-Irish landowning gentry often kept teams
of players on their estates and challenged each other's teams to matches for
the amusement of their tenants. Tales of colorful hurling matches from this
era continue to be collected from modern Irish storytellers and newspapers
of the era.
19th century
The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) is formed in 1884 in Thurles, County
Tipperary under the patronage of Thomas Croke, Archbishop of Cashel and Charles
Parnell.
20th century
The 20th century saw greater organisation in Hurling and Gaelic Football. The
all-Ireland Hurling championship came into existence along with the provincial
championships. Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary dominated hurling in the 20th century
with each of these counties winning more than 20 All-Ireland titles each. Wexford,
Waterford, Clare, Limerick, Offaly, Dublin, and Galway were also strong hurling
counties during the 20th century.
21st century
As hurling entered the new millennium, it remains Ireland's second most popular
sport. An extended qualifier system resulted in a longer All-Ireland Senior
Hurling Championship, but Cork and Kilkenny have come to dominate the championship
(they have won six of the seven All-Irelands so far played) and some argue
that the All-Ireland has become less competitive. Pay-for-play remains controversial
and the Gaelic Players Association continues to grow in strength. The inauguration
of the Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup gave new championships and an
opportunity to play in Croke Park to the weaker county teams.
Hurling. (2007, January 7). In Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:21, January 9, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hurling&oldid=99116889
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