I have to agree here with the last few posters - the usual old crowd who can never see the GAA doing anything new or different as being positive are out in force. From the comments also most of the posters may never set foot outside the country or spoken to anyone involved with promoting the GAA outside of Ireland. What has been achieved in some parts of the US in terms of hurling is nothing short of incredible. Perhaps the effort is over 100 years too late but none the less there is savage work happening now in the US, in Europe and Asia to grow the game from the grassroots up. The Irish of Boston deserved this - will it help, who knows the knock on effect - perhaps it will, one thing for sure it didn't do anyone any harm.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1805 - 24/11/2015 16:19:11    1809571

Why wasn't Joe Canning there?

paddyfrompark (Derry) - Posts: 4 - 24/11/2015 16:24:10    1809572

First off, I'm all for playing games in the US, the potential for hurling over here is immense. Its not like the 50's, hurling clubs being set up across the country are now being set up by Americans, great clubs in places like Milwaukee and Indianapolis. Its also taking off in Universities, its amazing really.

To get 28,000 into Fenway park for the game is also immense, and there was alot of talk in the city about it. However, I hate the format, it TOTALLY doesn't get what Americans love about the game, which is the high scoring aspect. Now, the 11 a side thing I'm fine with, it allows the game to be played on smaller pitches. But removing point scoring is a terrible idea. It makes the game too similar to hockey, and takes away one of the things Americans like most about the game.

I think the GPA are the wrong people to have involved in coming up with a format. That's not an anti-GPA jibe, I just don't think they have the required investment in hurling to push its promotion in the USA. And the fact that they went with this format, kinda shows that. If they'd done their research into hurling in America, they wouldn't have gone with that format. The people they should be asking about hurling in America, are Americans who are promoting hurling.

I would actually love to see a big game played over there, a league final perhaps? Also, promoting hurling in the USA doesn't stop people promoting the games at home, in counties where its not strong. We've had the games for 2,000 years, time to let other people in on the fun.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 24/11/2015 16:27:31    1809574

The modified rules game is a joke to us Americans who play the sport and try to promote it locally. It's a great sport, I understand that American stadiums might not have the field capacity to hold a full 15 v 15 but easily could do 11 aside on a field 120 yards long. Put the goal posts up. If someone scores a point from long range good for them, you just need to mark your man better. When we play in the states, we generally play on soccer sized pitch that has goals in place. Put up goal posts and have at it, same rules and scoring.
We tend to have more Americans playing it who love the speed, skill and physical nature of the game. It would work here on one of the 100 tv sports stations we have. Get the GAA to hook up with one of the Sports Cable TV providers and show games, even if taped delayed. Once people see it then they will become hooked. You also have to explain the rules to them. Like the twitter comments from games shown on SKY they all said, great game, wish I knew what was going on. You promote the games here on Cable TV you might get some TV revenue down the road which then could be put into promoting the game in Ireland and elsewhere.

flacat (USA) - Posts: 34 - 24/11/2015 18:25:11    1809609

I thought the game was enjoyable fast and skillful but cant understand the negativity over here. People who never post about hurling or would never watch a hurling match going on a about the hurlers embarrassing them abroad...make you sick. Of course many people have their own agendas and would hate to see hurling in any form flourish abroad or here for that matter.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 24/11/2015 19:02:51    1809620

The players got a free trip out of it. They're amateurs so I can't begrudge them that. I thought it was entertaining. After the brawl I saw opposing players help each other off the ground. It shows the players weren't malicious.

crikey (Australia) - Posts: 355 - 24/11/2015 21:30:03    1809662

Would the 7s format not be a better option than this so called super 11 rubbish I am sure a number of county's could have sent over 10 players and a make a competition out of it quarter finals then split winners in cup losers in shield. then semi and finals 15 - 20 min a half
would be better

mike_tuam (Galway) - Posts: 157 - 25/11/2015 10:21:49    1809703

Looks like the CCCC are going to look into the 'brawl'. link

If they do hand out bans James Skehill will be very lucky to get off.

CroiGorm (Dublin) - Posts: 1547 - 25/11/2015 10:56:53    1809726

There's no chance of hurling "flourishing" outside of Ireland let alone in Ireland itself. The so called Super 11s is something a child could make up with it been a mix between 15 and 7 aside. Most children playing hurling would have one across 7 aside with specially made rules to suit the numbers. If its board games we want, fair enough, but if we want to promote hurling let's be serious about it.

westisthebest (Galway) - Posts: 444 - 25/11/2015 10:58:35    1809728

People would want to lighten up a bit ffs.
It was an exhibition match, all this talk about b*s*a*disation of the game etc, ffs,get a grip.
Its the same old GAA approach to anything new or different, cant be having that, down with that sort of thing. Heaven forbid we try anything different in the GAA. In reality what harm did this do to the ordinary GAA punter, nothing apart from a bit of begrudgery for a few lads getting away to Boston as far as i can see.
As for promoting the game in weaker counties how about weaker counties making an effort themselves? How many In monaghan, Donegal etc would turn up to watch an exhibition hurling match? 28k people turned up in a foreign Country to see an exhibition match and how exactly did it harm the game of hurling in stronger or weaker counties in this country.

We have the typical GPA bashers on here all the time.

The game is a promotional event and also a concept to try different rules. I wonder have any of the knockers even tried to see this point. This game brought 28000 into the stadium as a stand alone fixture. The football game was the night before. In anybody's standing that is some crowd for a game outside Ireland.

As for the usual crap about promoting the game in Counties like my own, that is the same reasoning as spending money on hospitals instead of sport. Or grants to schools instead of clubs. This event probably cost the GAA/GPA nothing as it was sponsored and financed from the USA.

Believe me, I would love the GPA to take over the running of our games within Tyrone etc. The Counties are a joke most of the time. We don't need the GPA to promote the game here but we need forward thinking people like them to do so.

26plus6equals1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 430 - 25/11/2015 11:48:50    1809747

Well done to the GAA for thinking outside the box and trying to market the game abroad. I think it is a brave idea, and provided a great opportunity for exiles to go and enjoy a fixture of first division quality.

on the negative side, I am astonished that there is not more negative publicity about the fight. It was long and nasty. I wonder if Tyrone went to new york or boston to play a team, and it degenerated into scenes like this, how the media would have reacted. You cant have one set of rules for one county and another set of rules for other counties. I hope that the media for once and for all start to call things as they see them, rather than play favorites with some counties over others.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 25/11/2015 11:50:31    1809748

Donegalman
County: All
Posts: 2262

on the negative side, I am astonished that there is not more negative publicity about the fight. It was long and nasty. I wonder if Tyrone went to new york or boston to play a team, and it degenerated into scenes like this, how the media would have reacted. You cant have one set of rules for one county and another set of rules for other counties. I hope that the media for once and for all start to call things as they see them, rather than play favorites with some counties over others.

Totally disagree.

The fight has been all over the media. Eamon Dunphy even had a go at the players over it. There has been a heap of negative publicity surrounding the fight. A cursory glance at the media and you'll see a load of negativity surrounding it.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13710 - 25/11/2015 11:54:35    1809752

The brawl was reported, but in an arbitrary way. There were no calls for players to be sanctioned. I havent read a full column anywhere on a newspaper about a brawl that lasted a full 90 seconds, something that you would have expected as a stand alone story. Instead it has been included as something that happened within the match report. Personally, I find this strange. We should wait and see what the papers report next sunday if at all about the games flash point. If there is nothing more said, then it is most likely going to be forgotten about by journalists.

This isnt something that is going to stop me watching hurling, as it is generally played with a better sporting attitude than football, and I definitely wont stop watching football. My point is that we are not getting impartial reporting. Either we report all incidents the way that this game was handled by the media, or we report incidents the way the all ireland quarter final was handled by the media.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 25/11/2015 12:20:26    1809763

It's been reported in all ways.

It was an exhibition match that hardly anyone in Ireland watched

Despite it being only an exhibition match with completely different rules to an actual hurling match the CCCC are now getting involved.

When you take everything into account the brawl has received a massive amount of coverage. A lot more coverage than the actual game.

The fact that a fight in an exhibition match garnered so much negative publicity and is now being investigated by the CCCC makes it clear there is no bias towards anyone.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13710 - 25/11/2015 12:29:25    1809770

The Galway keeper has to get a lengthy suspension anyway....ran the whole way up the field to get involved. Ridiculous.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1319 - 25/11/2015 12:54:15    1809782

Its funny how the 'enlightened progressives' always need to feel validated by yanks or Europeans.

The alleged desire to make it more appealing to those of non irish backgrounds is nonsense. You can read any amount of articles of 'outsiders' coming to watch hurling matches and leaving astounded at the pace and skill of the games.

So if we are going to market it, as seems to be the case abroad, do it without turning it into a hockey match as it loses its appeal.

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 25/11/2015 13:00:04    1809785

I would disagree that it has been reported in all ways. There are no headline titles using language we would expect to associate with a brawl such as disgraceful, ugly, unsightly, controversial etc, rather that the brawl just happened. Run a google search yourself and see, and compare it to any of the games last summer that we heard so much about sledging etc, that took up a massive amount of coverage rather than the game itself.

The fact that the game was a challenge game is beside the point, it was in the spotlight in north america, and that in itself should draw plenty of media coverage (there were over 30000 at the game). 'Brawl just heat of battle' is about as controversial as it gets re headlines.

I am reading in the last hour that the CCCC are going to investigate this, but the match official's report according to Gaa spokesma Sean Potts, will probably see that players will not be sanctioned. ''It was dealt with in the context and I would expect that to be the end of it''

The original point I made is that if we are going to blow the whistle on some and not others, we have a serious media bias going on and it is something that we should all be aware of, and demand a more balanced view.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 25/11/2015 13:03:30    1809788

bumpernut
County: Antrim
Posts: 1073

What appeal exactly is it losing? It hasn't got an appeal to everyone and that is the point of the exhibition and the rule changes.

A game, adapted to suit pitches which are in every community in the world, brings the biggest crowd ever to a match in the States and people are giving off about it.

The game suits a soccer, field hockey, rugby, lacrosse, American football piches and needs adapted for same. The biggest problem for our games abroad (and at home) is to find a pitch over 140 meters long and 90 meters wide, then put up goal posts and insure them. Then you need the catch nets as most of the worlds population are in city's. There are lots of things stopping lads hurling before they even look about personal equipment like hurls or helmets.

This game could help introduce people to hurling who in turn could gravitate towards an established club or form one themselves.

I have still to hear one valid reason as to why this shouldn't happen. Apart from the "it has been ok for 130 years brigade". It clearly hasn't been ok and any little bit will help, not hinder, promotion

26plus6equals1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 430 - 25/11/2015 13:21:57    1809800

The brawl has been presented mostly positively, as far as I've seen. Which highlights the reality - most people love (watching) a good row. Even those who most vocally pretend to hate them love it when it's the 'Irish' rugger goys fighting
Anyway it's too much of a coincidence that two teams not known for rowing conjure up a 22 player all-in in a friendly match that happens to be before the one public that appreciates brawling more than any other (yanks). Btw one thing which I did like was the press conference after the match. I know you can't oblige amateurs to speak, etc. But it's great for PR

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 25/11/2015 13:25:51    1809803

It was a rubbish game but probably did no harm at all as regards promotion and for all those who attended it was good crack I'd imagine.
Funny though how most hurling schmozzles are manly affairs and part of any contact sport but football gets bad press easier. Henry Shefflin told us there was no sledging in hurling when it raised its head earlier this year in football context.
Mind you football has to take its fair share of the blame too when you have certain individuals feigning injury and looking to get lads sent off.

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 25/11/2015 13:28:12    1809806