The_post the football final was poor but the Kerry Mayo games were the 2 excellent games, i think it matters what you are brought up with, for example i was at the Kilkenny/ Limerick semi last year but i would have said the majority of football games last year were more entertaining for me then that match.

ros1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1211 - 31/01/2015 20:32:47    1688490

I personally prefer hurling, by a long way.
I always find it ironic that so many people here who give out about the anti GAA brigade on RTe etc. are the same people who never give hurling the time of day, even though many of them have never watched a game.
I also find that most people I know who dont really follow the GAA have a lot more respect for hurling than they do football. Thats my experience of it anyway.
I love football too by the way, so please dont have a go at me.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 31/01/2015 20:49:37    1688506

The_post the football final was poor but the Kerry Mayo games were the 2 excellent games, i think it matters what you are brought up with, for example i was at the Kilkenny/ Limerick semi last year but i would have said the majority of football games last year were more entertaining for me then that match.

Im am shocked that you would think that as I thought most football games last year were worse than that game. Point taken though, I guess it depends on what side of the fence you were brought up on.?!?

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 31/01/2015 21:14:12    1688517

I played both games. I support both games at club and county level. I coach both games. I love both games. They are two games we should be very proud of in this country. I know I am.
However it's hurling all day long for me. Far more enjoyable to play or watch. And I appreciate the skills a bit more too. As a teacher I introduce young children to the games for the first time. One thing is blatantly obvious. It is a lot easier for kids to pick up football than it is to pick up hurling.

Plasticman (Dublin) - Posts: 26 - 01/02/2015 10:35:41    1688589

I enjoyed playing football but rarely watch it unless a club game, or if Dublin are playing. Raised on the Dubs teams of 70s and still highly emotionally engaged. To the extent that I could not bring myself to watch AI final last year, but also knew that I was unlikely to be missing much of a spectacle. To be honest am looking forward to Super Bowl tonight more than I would any conceivable AI football final if Dublin were not in it, or unless it featured a county that had not won it before or for a long time. And that would be for the novelty.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 01/02/2015 10:51:31    1688597

31/01/2015 18:32:55
KingdomBoy1
County: Kerry
Posts: 2755

1688410
Iv been to a few Kerry hurling / football double headers in Killarney and Tralee and nearly all the Kerry hurling crowed would get up after hurling would be over and go home, they are fair black those north Kerry people :-D isn't that right the hermit

They get to sit? Typical rich North Kerry farmers! :)

an tseabhac (Kerry) - Posts: 441 - 01/02/2015 10:57:24    1688601

It is a lot easier for kids to pick up football than it is to pick up hurling.

This is undoubtedly true. But then it's probably also easier to pick up acting than ballet. Still a lot more people going to the Cinema last night than were at the Nutcracker. There are plenty of things in the world which require great levels of skill and concentration to do. Doesn't mean they're necessarily better to watch or listen to or partake in.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 01/02/2015 11:31:40    1688611

Fair enough if your background is football and it's your love, it's not a bad sport.. But you can't say it's better to watch that hurling. Obviously you'd want to watch your own County at the sport it does better in but I'm sure people who have seen neither sports would find hurling a better spectacle! It's end to end high intensity high scoring. No defensive systems and blanket defensive and half forward lines deeper than half back line with constant lateral hand passing and I could go on.. Limerick play clare in munster quarter final and it's gonna be a Hugh occasion and a cracking game. Can you say That for a football provincial football quarter final? As pat Spillane once said watching Donegal v Dublin.. I don't know whether to laugh or cry!

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 01/02/2015 12:44:21    1688630

Cavan Slasher,

I remember going to a hurling match in Cavan not long ago. There a few young lads kicking football on the adjacent pitch. They made sure to leave before the hurling match started in case they'd be "infected". Pure ignorance.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 01/02/2015 16:50:42    1688726

Good post 11jm11.
I am nearly as bad a s you but not quiet. I once saw a half of an under21 intercounty all ireland hurling final. it was on after kerry cavan in 1995 i think.
also watched one club hurling game.

Hurling is a great sport but for me the place to watch it is on tv. I would spend half the time wondering where the ball is!
A bit like rugby and aussie rules 2 decent sports but being actually at the game itself can be tiresome and confusing, much more enjoyable to watch them on tv with live commentary.

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 03/02/2015 09:58:13    1689497

I wouldn't be a fan of hurling. I've tried to get into it a fair few times, but have only ever seen one game that I enjoyed - Kilkenny - Tipp AI final a few years back. I find there is a serious amount of hoofing going on. Just 50-50 balls lumped long, back and over, back and over. Plus I think the tackling is at times just two lads smashing into each other. The ball is so small, the guy in possession just holds it in one hand back behind him and the opponent cant get near it. It makes a lot of tackling redundant as you cant really get a hand to the ball at any time in the collision. Another pet hate of mine is when the ball is on the ground and guys just pull on it. Id turn over when I see a lot of that going on.

It might take longer to get used to than football, but the game intelligence going on at the highest level in football is of a higher standard than that of hurling. No question about it. You hoof a ball to nowhere in football, you get an earful, and what is more, you don't get it hoofed back to you. Similarly, if you choose to go into contact, even if you are bigger than the opponent, they can get a hand on the ball, that is the chance to you take and that is a good thing. Im not trying to say it's better etc etc, Im just saying why I like it more.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 03/02/2015 12:02:51    1689553

only hurling matches I have been to have been part of double headers with football matches.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 03/02/2015 12:05:53    1689556

blackspot91
To say hurling is played by people who cant play football is laugable! Im pretty sure the limerick hurlers would beat the limerick footballers at football! and that goes for lots of counties! A good hurling team would hold there own in football but not the other way around.. far too skilful

So the Kilkenny hurlers would hold their own in division 1 in the football league? Listen don't be kidding yourself. Hurling requires a skillset not natural to people, i.e. controlling a ball on the end of a stick, so initially it takes more practice to learn it. But that shouldn't be confused with it being more difficult. How many footballers at the highest level routinely knock points over from their own half? Answer zero, because it is more difficult to do in football. You see more frees missed also - because it is more difficult to score. You see more blocks, dispossessions, etc etc, because the ball is bigger, and so guys have to play cuter to keep it away from opponents. All this is lost on the hurling fraternity though. They don't give it any thought.

A question, if hurlers are more skilful, then why don't duel players run amok in the football?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 03/02/2015 12:17:15    1689564

I would personally drive 10miles to watch a junior b hurling match between two clubs that neither are wven my own. I think it stems from having a deep appreciation for the game, as in watching a corner forward bursting onto a low ball at full pace controlling it first time,rounding his man and rattling it over the bar, i appreciate how difficult and how many hours it took to be able to do this!

Colinog (UK) - Posts: 39 - 03/02/2015 12:23:36    1689568

the uninhibited "hoofing" is the best part of it master (for me, a lot of people wont agree), no slowing down and boring teutonic calculations. It can look awful when it goes straight to an unmarked opponent though.
I think from the thread that peolpe who really dislike hurling are from heavy football areas, and vice-versa, whereas those from areas where both are played would be a bit more open-minded about it

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 03/02/2015 12:38:54    1689574

Bit disappointing to hear so many posters slandering either game.Personally i love both just about equally(hurling if i had to choose).2 great games that make the Summer months so enjoyable.I played both games growing up.Ive been to Croke Park to watch a multitude of both games.How posters can dislike either so much is beyond me.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 03/02/2015 12:47:17    1689582

the problem is you cant see the ball, maybe it needs to be made a bit bigger

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 03/02/2015 12:48:51    1689585

keeper7
County: Longford
Posts: 2219

1688726
Cavan Slasher,

I remember going to a hurling match in Cavan not long ago. There a few young lads kicking football on the adjacent pitch. They made sure to leave before the hurling match started in case they'd be "infected". Pure ignorance.

Did they all come over and tell you that?
To be honest a bad football match is better than a good hurling match to many. You either like it or you don't. Many hurlers feel the same way about football.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 03/02/2015 14:27:24    1689652

Where is the skill in that though flack? If that is all you want to see then head for your nearest driving range and sit there watching them, you will be in for a treat... I dismiss your point about this simply being because I am from a football area. I have made a deliberate effort to watch the game and get into it. I just don't find it entertaining.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 03/02/2015 15:02:49    1689667

I would be the other way around. I saw my first football match last year. I didn't mind it at all. I'd go to any hurling match if I had the time. But, its sad that there is this apathy. And, there's no sense say one is more skillful than the other. Its just a different type of skill. I couldn't score a penalty in football, in fact, I'd surprise myself just to kick it between the posts. But, I could land a puck out on top of my wing forward. I liked playing hurling more so I worked at it more. If I had liked football more, and worked at it, then maybe I could have made the jr. b team.

kilflynn (Kerry) - Posts: 66 - 03/02/2015 15:30:46    1689690