Hurling (iomaint in Irish), a team game for men similar to field hockey, is one of Ireland’s most popular sports. It is said to be the fastest field game in the world. A variation of hurling that is played by women is called camogie. Hurling is one of a group of sports known as Gaelic games. Its controlling body is the Gaelic Athletic Association.
The playing field used for hurling is approximately 150 yards by 90 yards (137 meters by 82 meters). Goalposts are similar to those used in rugby football, but with slightly lower crossbars. There are 15 players in each team, and each player uses a stick called a hurley (caman in Irish), which is made from ash wood. The hurley is about 3.3 feet (1 meter) in length. It is like a hockey stick but more flexible. The ball (sliotar) is 31/2 inches (90 millimeters) in diameter and is made of cork bound firmly with woollen thread and then covered with leather. The rims, where the leather is joined, stand out from the surface. The players may strike the ball with either side of the bas (wide part of the hurley).
During play, hurlers may strike the ball while it is stationary on the ground or in motion. A player may hit the ball while it is in the air either to continue its flight in the same direction or to change its direction. Players may not pick up the ball from the ground by hand, but must raise it with the hurley. A player may catch the ball in flight and may pass it by hand or by kicking it. A team scores by getting the ball either over the crossbar (for 1 point) or under it (for 3 points), using the hurley.
When a team commits a foul, the opposing team takes a free puck by lifting the ball from the ground and striking it without handling it. If a team drives the ball out of play at the sidelines, the opposition takes a free shot from outside the boundary of the playing area. A player takes a free shot by hitting the ball with the hurley in the manner of a golf shot.
Hurling is a fast sport. Good players can drive the ball at speeds of up to 90 miles (145 kilometers) per hour. The ball may cover a distance of more than 95 yards (90 meters). A game lasts 70 minutes, and play is continuous.
A young hurler can start playing in competitions before the age of 10. Adult hurling competitions resemble Gaelic football and are played at the same time of the year. The All-Ireland hurling final takes place at Croke Park, Dublin, on the second Sunday in September.
The most successful clubs in hurling are Cork, Kilkenny, and Tipperary. Perhaps the most famous hurlers in the history of the sport were Christy Ring of Cork and John Doyle of Tipperary. Both players won eight All-Ireland medals. Other famous players include Eddie Keher of Kilkenny, Mick Mackey of Limerick, and Nick Rachard of Wexford.
