Ah the Irish mentality, hes tates himself the vast majority prefer one thing, but becuase he doesnt like it, everyone else is wrong ang and he is right.
You'd do well in democracy my friend.
Each to their own. Unfortunately for you, you are in the second rate citizen class. And I'm sure the hibuu Matuudrtfgd tribe you showed the vhs to loved it alright.

gottabetrue (Tyrone) - Posts: 300 - 09/01/2009 09:33:07    176337

09/01/2009 09:33:07
gottabetrue
County: Tyrone
Posts: 20

Ah the Irish mentality, hes tates himself the vast majority prefer one thing, but becuase he doesnt like it, everyone else is wrong ang and he is right.
You'd do well in democracy my friend.
Each to their own. Unfortunately for you, you are in the second rate citizen class. And I'm sure the hibuu Matuudrtfgd tribe you showed the vhs to loved it alright.

Jim? Jim? Is that really you? Stay away from the light Jim ...... Come back to us ......

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 09/01/2009 10:06:31    176370

Jim? Jim? Is that really you? Stay away from the light Jim ...... Come back to us ......

lol

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 09/01/2009 10:31:42    176404

Don't be so paranoid tileacman - *cough *cough does not refer to a county - relax!

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 09/01/2009 11:18:32    176457

Hurling is the sport of the Gods, let us drink nectar on the sideline, and feast on manna from the heavens above as we enjoy its spectacle. Hurling is the undisputed king of field sports.

Fine words WB Patrique. I do agree that hurlings the greatest sport, but such hyperbole probably just turns people off. The sad truth about hurling is that it appears to be dying a slow painful death before our very eyes with only one county capable of winning the all-Ireland, and a handful of clubs dominating and thus the club scene becoming predictable and stale. Im praying that this years Leinster chship will shake things up a bit.

mossbags (Galway) - Posts: 1089 - 09/01/2009 11:29:06    176462

Unless it was Jim on an all-night bender, unlikely to be him (9.30am!)

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 09/01/2009 13:41:46    176602

all players know in their hearts that iomanaiocht is best to watch and play

Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1558 - 09/01/2009 14:20:29    176640

mossbags
County: Galway
Posts: 589

176462 Hurling is the sport of the Gods, let us drink nectar on the sideline, and feast on manna from the heavens above as we enjoy its spectacle. Hurling is the undisputed king of field sports.

Fine words WB Patrique. I do agree that hurlings the greatest sport, but such hyperbole probably just turns people off. The sad truth about hurling is that it appears to be dying a slow painful death before our very eyes with only one county capable of winning the all-Ireland, and a handful of clubs dominating and thus the club scene becoming predictable and stale. Im praying that this years Leinster chship will shake things up a bit.

Agree completely it reminds me of the small farmer big farmer story years ago. Pete Finerty stuck out his chest during a discussion as above and announced "there's nothing wrong with our game " correct Pete only there's about 5 or 6 teams can play to level hurling people are dream about .

chainsaw (Laois) - Posts: 712 - 09/01/2009 15:15:39    176707

Of course most gaels will accept hurling is the real king of sports, however, i dont feel the need to shove it down other gaels throats. As someone who is now entering their 30th odd year playing hurling, never quite scaled the heights of bald eagle or some others on HS, i find we are heading down the roads of introverted snobbery. We all know it was and probably still is the poor relation, however, most football followers i believe have at the very least a tinge of regret they either never played it at all or not enough to have experienced the butterflies come championship day. As someone else said previously live and let live.
Finally, to the contributor who mentioned about a bad game being awful to watch, as someone who played in quite a few of these 'bad games' try telling that to the 30 or 40 guys who are out busting a gut, in most cases probably dying with a hangover on a sunday afternoon, trying to play a game thats either in your blood or not. Now could you tell me how many soccer prima donnas or egg chasers would show that amount of dedication!!!!!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 09/01/2009 15:31:10    176736

chainsaw
County: Laois
Posts: 242

On a connected note a man from Kilkenny told me recently the only reason they field a senior football team (O Byrne Cup) each year is because it entitles them to an extra 5000 tickets for the hurling final isn't that something else.

Not so , its just another way for them to slag off something they're not interested in, and thus not very good at as a team, but have to be seen to make a token effort, rememberour current president needed football votes to get elected

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 09/01/2009 16:07:27    176802

Found this elsewhere. Some observer guy on our beloved game. Worth a read......... Looking for a new sport - how about Irish hurling? http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/517081.html?nav=5010#membercmts517081 I was sitting on a friend's couch the other day, watching "Dodgeball" and when "Obscure Sports Quarterly" made its appearance, I started to think of the strangest, possibly most fascinating game I have ever seen - Irish hurling. No, this is not a sport revolving around the effects of drinking too much Guinness. It is a sport that is not easily explained and a sport I stumbled on many years ago while watching a show dedicated to Gaelic games. Irish hurling has been described as being similar to rugby, lacrosse and a form of aerial hockey. The idea is to score goals on the opposing keeper, pretty basic, but it's how the teams do it that makes it one of - if not the most - amazingly-insane games imaginable. Hurling is recognized as being one of the oldest known games, with origins dating to 1272 B.C. Its early purpose was to help prepare Irish warriors for battle, evolving from that time into Ireland's national pastime. In 1884 the Gaelic Athletic Association was formed to regulate all games Gaelic in origin and played on the island. Other sports include Irish football, Camogie (a form of hurling for women), handball and rounders (the game many consider to be the origin for baseball). The main instruments of competition in a hurling match are the hurley, a stick of 26-27-inches in length, with a rounded end and a ball or "sliothar", which has a cork center, which is wrapped in thread and covered in leather. In appearance, it can easily be mistaken for a baseball. The field, or pitch, is a minimum of 130-meters long and a minimum of 80- wide and can be a maximum of 145- long and 90- wide. The goal is a cross between a soccer goal and that used in rugby. It measures 6.5-meters wide and 2.5- high. The game is played with 15 players per side - including the goalie - and most are played with two 30-minute halves. A shot taken from the ground can travel the same distance as that of a golf ball struck with a 9-iron while a ball struck from mid-air can travel as far as 305-feet. In terms of play, hurling looks like field hockey on steroids. The ball can be struck from the ground, dropped from a player's hand and struck in mid-air (kind of like if you were to be hitting infield practice on a baseball or softball field), or can be dropped from a stationary position from the hurley and struck that way. The ball can travel as fast as 93-miles per hour and from a close distance can no doubt inflict serious damage. Unlike hockey, body checking is not allowed and players are also not allowed to pull opponents to the ground. Also, the ball is not allowed to be thrown and cannot be picked up by hand. When in possession of the sliothar, a player is only allowed four steps before he either has to pass it, or have the ball make contact with his hurley or the ground, at which time he can take four more steps. You can only drop the ball and catch it twice in one possession.

mossbags (Galway) - Posts: 1089 - 09/01/2009 16:43:22    176860

Watching clips of hurling on YouTube, it makes football or hockey seem harmless. Players, most of whom wear absolutely nothing in terms of protection (in fact, only players under 19 years old are required to wear a helmet with a face guard), run around smashing the ball through the air, with little or no regard for their safety, the safety of their teammates or their opponents. Goalie is not the position I would want. Actually this is one sport where I would prefer to be a "bench warmer." There are 32 counties in Ireland, all of them are represented on the hurling pitch and all of them hope to play in the All-Ireland final at Dublin's Crooke Park, which is held on the second Sunday of September. This year Kilkenny topped Waterford in what was apparently dominant fashion. I mean how could I really know what is and what isn't a dominant hurling performance. I didn't even know the sport existed until I was in my mid-teens, but I'll take the report from the "Kilkenny People" at its word. Ireland is not the only place where hurling can be found. Actually, there are GAA associated organizations in Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, Canada, the United States and South America. Currently there are 32 hurling teams in the U.S., along with 11 camogie and one youth hurling team, the Columbia Red Branch, located in Portland, OR. Who would let their children play this game is beyond me, but I guess at that age, it can't be that much more dangerous than hockey, that is if all the necessary safety precautions are taken. According to a recent census report (well, fairly recent - 2006 to be exact) there are 34.5 million Americans who claim Irish ancestry and 128,000 U.S. residents who were born in Ireland, which may tell us a little of why Gaelic games have some popularity throughout the states. At 28, I can tell you that there is no way I will be searching out a hurling pitch any time soon, if at all, nor should I have children of my own some day, will I sign them up for the local hurling team. I will just simply watch with amazement as men, women and children of all ages get kicks out of things I will never fully comprehend. Gib Snyder III is an OBSERVER Sports reporter. Send comments to [email protected].

mossbags (Galway) - Posts: 1089 - 09/01/2009 16:44:17    176861

i am from a football background and will always rate football as my number 1 sport. hurling is of no interest to me and i don't think it ever will be. everyone is entitled to their opinon

rayk67 (Tyrone) - Posts: 193 - 09/01/2009 18:41:35    176953

I do like to wax lyrical at times, but I did not run football down. I watch football, and played football, probably because 98% of Belfast players are dual players.

However as I keep pointing out, there are more genuine contenders for the hurling title at the moment than there are for the football. Does anyone really believe that Cork, Mayo, Derry, Monaghan or Wexford will win the football this year?

But it is not without reason to pick 6 counties who could win the hurling, if Kilkenny slip up. At football if Kerry slip up, Tyrone would be the favourites to take their place. If Kilkenny slip, take your pick from Tipp, a full Cork team, Galway Waterford or Limerick.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 09/01/2009 19:50:47    177003

to watch, high standard hurling is way better then high standard football, but low standard football is much better then low standard hurling

Gandalf (Meath) - Posts: 57 - 09/01/2009 22:16:37    177087

i hate when you watch a hurling match before a football as then the football seema so slow .also i hate the way some managers on players to choose between them they are both great games and there to be enjoyed

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 09/01/2009 22:40:37    177108

Gandalf
County: Meath
Posts: 14

177087
to watch, high standard hurling is way better then high standard football, but low standard football is much better then low standard hurling
------------------------------------------
my point exactly.

trileacman (Tyrone) - Posts: 759 - 09/01/2009 23:52:23    177144

I thoroughly enjoy both sports I have to say but I agree hurling is a superior sport. Pity not enough counties play at the highest level.

Concept82 (Wicklow) - Posts: 440 - 10/01/2009 11:13:21    177214

Sometimes it is, sometimes it is'nt,

PJ (None) - Posts: 2288 - 10/01/2009 13:55:28    177254

It makes me laugh every time a hurling man comes on and tries to put down Gaelic Football. There's a reason why Gaelic Football is more popular its a better game full stop. Its more competitive that the Hurling champioship and there's better games throughout the championship. Fair enough if you think its hurling is better but please stop telling football peoples how rubbish Gaelic football is and how great hurling is.

Bigboy (Galway) - Posts: 133 - 10/01/2009 21:41:19    177519