All-Ireland Hurling Final Tickets
When: Sunday 7th Sep 2008
Where: Croke Park
This event is always a sell out, book tickets now with confidence online or phone UK 0870 1999 742.
The Guinness All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final, played at Croke Park Dublin, is the biggest game of the year in one of Ireland's favourite sports. Hurling is not only the oldest game in Ireland, but also one of the oldest in the world. Its roots can be traced back to pre-Christian times, when it featured in Irish folklore to illustrate the deeds of legendary heroes. The modern players are no less heroic, traversing a massive pitch at breakneck speed in what is one of the world's fastest, most exciting sports. Hurling is played at all levels in Ireland, but it is the county game that dominates.
The various counties battle for supremacy within the regions of Munster, Leinster, Connaught and Ulster. The top team in each region then progresses to the All Ireland Finals, where the team of the year is decided. Every sport has its own unique language and hurling is no different. It is therefore essential to be familiar with these two terms. The hurley (called cam·n in Irish) is the stick and the sliothar is the ball. There are various terms for the positions of the players but these are largely self-explanatory. The object of the game is to propel the sliothar, using hand, hurley or foot, through the goalposts, over or under the crossbar. Under, into the net, scores a goal worth three points, over gains just a point. Simple isn't it? Well, not quite. When propelling the sliothar to the goal the players may strike the ball on the ground or in the air.
The players may pick the ball up with the hurley and carry it no more than four steps in the hand. After the four steps a player may bounce the sliothar on the hurley and back into the hand (but beware this can only be done twice). To overcome this problem, the players try to master the art of running with the sliothar balanced on the hurley, the equivalent of a dazzling solo run in soccer. Basically, the rules could not be easier to understand!
