Hurling is one of the oldest sports in the world dating back to 1272, it provides thrilling entertainment to all those who watch and play this exhilarating unique game. It is a dangerous game and certainly not for the faint hearted, with the ball travelling speeds of 100mph and a player from the opposite team chasing you with a hurl. On the 1st of January 2010 it became compulsory for hurlers to wear helmets with a faceguard attached, an initiative implemented by the GAA to reduce the amounts of injuries that were taking place. As well as introducing the helmet rule, there is a number of other key rules to protect the players but also to also to keep one of the most skilful games flowing. Picking the ball up off the ground with your hand instead of flicking it up with your hurl is a free to the other team which results in a free. Throwing the (sliotar) hurling ball instead of hand passing it with an open hand also results in a free to the opposite team. Another rule which referees are very strict on is chopping which relates to slashing downwards on another persons hurl instead of going for the ball. Other rules in hurling include that a player must not take the ball three times in their hand and they are not allowed to travel more four steps with the ball unless they tap the ball off their stick to give them another four steps.
So what is the objective of hurling? It is as simple as trying to outscore your opponent. You have to limit the amount they score at your goalposts and score as much as possible in their goalposts.
If you hit the ball over the bar in hurling it counts as one point and if you score a goal which is under the bar, it counts as three points. A side-line cut which is when the ball goes over the line at either side counts as one point, if it goes over the bar which it used to count as 2 because of the sublime skill that it takes to do. The ball can be kicked over the bar or in the net however it cannot be hand passed or thrown as that is a foul. A goal counts as three points as there is a goalkeeper guarding the net therefore it is harder than scoring a point. In terms of size the goalposts are 6.4 meters wide and 2.44 meters off the ground.
In terms of the team layout, both sides have fifteen players and they line out with one goalkeeper and three in the full back line, three in the half back line, two midfielders, three half forwards, three full forwards. Because of the evolution of hurling not all teams stick to the formation after the ball is thrown in. Some teams play what is called a sweeper which is when one of the full forwards usually come back and play in front of the full back line with the objective that the other team wont score as much goals. Hurling teams usually have panels of around 24-26 payers which gives you the benefit of being able to bring on substitutes with fresh legs as the game progresses to try and help them win the game. It is often seen at intercounty level with subs being more important than the players who start as it often helps teams get the win in matches.
Hurling games at intercounty level last 70 minutes before injury time is added on, whereas in club hurling it is 60 minutes before injury time. As a result of Covid 19 the GAA brought in water breaks 15 minutes into both half's because during the Covid year of 2020 teams just played championship and therefore didn't have the pre season to get fit which in my opinion was a good idea from the GAA as it showed that they were accommodating to their players and gave ,them more rest. During the league campaign if the game finishes a draw then both teams share the points however in a knockout championship game, if it is a draw after the 70 or 60 minutes it either goes to a replay or there is extra time added on as one team has to win.
Hawk eye is a ball tracking system that is used in Hurling to clarify if the ball went over the bar or not given that the ball travels at very high speed and at a high trajectory so it can be hard for the referee or the umpires ( 2 people at either sides of the posts who signal if the ball went over the bar, wide or in the net) to track if the ball went over the bar. It also prevents controversy from either team if they disagree with the decision. Hawk eye is also used to check if the sliotar (ball) crossed the line for a goal which again makes the umpire and referees job easier. Hawk eye was introduced on the 1st of June 2013 in Croke Park and now it is planned to be implemented into every GAA stadium. It is estimated that Croke Park pay between 7,000 and 8,000 euros for Hawk eye each game.
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