I know we have had these discussion already but I think it's really true. Mr Harte's recent comments about hurling brought it forward even more.
The analysis from the likes of Brolly and Spillane after games is actually becoming so negative it is detrimental to the game of football.
It's very rare for them to give praise for the game.
The hurling panel is different there is always praise at the end of games and even for the lesser sides you'll get a comment like 'well they gave it their all but just came up against a great side' or 'they are improving and if they keep in the direction they are going they will get there'.
Saying that the game of hurling is a much more attractive game, more goals, more scores, more skill. Also it sometimes looks a tougher game than football, I think this is down to the fact that you can do less pulling and dragging with a hurl in your hand. A lot of the tackles are more physical bumping. The speed of the game is faster. It' really got a lot of positives compared to football.
Even the recent womens All-Ireland finals got so much praise. The skills shown by the girls was pretty brilliant and deserved a lot of credit.
Can't see football ever being more attractive game. I think the GAA would do well to pump a lot more money into hurling across the country. I think they know themselves it's a more viable game and it's so unique. These days a lot of footballers can just switch to soccer or rugby and then of course you've got the AFL taking a lot of our young talent now.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 20/09/2012 10:27:20    1269380

Personally I would watch a good game of football over a good game of hurling every day of the week. You talk about there being so much skill yet refer to the tackles as being 'physical bumping' (which I agree with), how much skill does it take to crash into somebody? Yes it is faster, and the ball is also smaller, and because of these things it takes far less footballing/hurling intelligence or cuteness to get the ball away. There is an awful lot of hoofing in hurling that would be an absolute cardinal sin in a game of football. In this respect, I think football is a little further down the line in development. Im not saying you are wrong, everyone has opinions, Im just pointing out how your perceived upsides can also be viewed as downsides. As for the pundits, surely that only indicates that the huling has better pundits as opposed to anything in the actual game?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 20/09/2012 12:07:48    1269447

I prefer Hurling of the two but love both when they are played right between two fairly even teams. Hurling is faster and seems to be more apt to lead changes.

WoodlawnPat (Galway) - Posts: 288 - 20/09/2012 12:22:43    1269462

Apples & Oranges.
We should be delighted that we have two of the best team games in the world to call our own & leave it at that.
For the record I am a football man myself.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 20/09/2012 12:29:41    1269471

Coke or Pepsi?, lemon or lime? This discussion has no point just an agenda set by the poster. The two games are unique and great....End Of!

Cranky360 (Mayo) - Posts: 834 - 20/09/2012 12:30:22    1269472

Played properly, hurling is by far the prettier game, football is something you need to be brought up with to be passionate about it, I doubt if it is admired from afar like the small ball game!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8753 - 20/09/2012 12:33:22    1269478

No it isn't!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 20/09/2012 13:22:10    1269517

These days a lot of footballers can just switch to soccer or rugby and then of course you've got the AFL taking a lot of our young talent now.

Because hurlers like Tomás O'leary, Shane Long and Setanta Ó hAilpín would never be able to switch codes to these other games...

As for the overall debate, who cares? Very similar in some ways, very different in others. Most people appreciate both and watch both. What you play is more about where you're from...

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 20/09/2012 13:35:12    1269533

You should've went to Specsavers Brend!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8753 - 20/09/2012 13:43:56    1269544

Do apples taste better than oranges?

might as well start another useless debate!!

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 20/09/2012 13:59:41    1269564

if hurling is the better product then why is football selling better even with all the negativity from pundits and newspapers alike it still sells better then hurling?

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 20/09/2012 14:32:29    1269596

1.You'd prefer:
(a) A hot fudge sundae
(b) Chocolate chip cookies

2.You consider yourself to be more:
(a) Outgoing
(b) Introspective

3.You like things that are:
(a) Flashy
(b) Comfortable

4.You tend to be:
(a) Indulgent
(b) Restrained

5.You feel more energetic:
(a) At night
(b) During the day

6.You're more likely to:
(a) Get along
(b) Speak up

7.What kind of movie do you prefer?
(a) Drama
(b) Comedy

8.You're more likely come across as:
(a) Witty
(b) Warm

9.You rather live in:
(a) A house by the lake
(b) A loft in the city

10.Your friends are:
(a) Fabulous
(b) Faithful

If you answered (a) to most of these questions then you like hurling. If you answered (b) then you're more of a football person.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 20/09/2012 14:34:29    1269598

I totally agree but it does seem to be appreciated enough. I am not sure if that is due to marketing. I find it very surprising though. It is one of the best, skillful, and most fascinating games in the world in my opinion.

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 20/09/2012 14:41:20    1269606

I agree with the fact that the hurling panel are better and more positive about the game! Football pundits are awful, too often have there own agenda & are not half as knowledgable as the hurling pundits!

I also think that mangers coaching in football have a lot to answer for in the way the game is going as a spectacle! The players are being caoched to be more negative on the pitch both in fouling and in diving where there is more honesty in a game of hurling in general! No need for examples to the contrary because we know they do happen also...

pigonastick (Dublin) - Posts: 487 - 20/09/2012 15:03:33    1269621

Nick
County: Wexford

Saying that the game of hurling is a much more attractive game, more goals, more scores, more skill. Also it sometimes looks a tougher game than football, I think this is down to the fact that you can do less pulling and dragging with a hurl in your hand. A lot of the tackles are more physical bumping.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wish that was the case, but there's an awful lot of cynical pulling and dragging in hurling now (hurlers have two hands, and that spare hand is starting to lose the run of itself), it just doesn't get highlighted as much as it does in the football. I'd be a hurling man first and foremost, but I think the people who say football and hurling are held to different standards when it comes to fouling/cynical play have a point. A little more honesty from the hurling pundits, and alot less negativity from the football pundits would go a long way.
Agree with you about the camogie though, the skill and athleticism from those girls is increasing from year to year, loved Ursula Jacobs second goal

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 20/09/2012 17:33:06    1269732

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 4799

"There is an awful lot of hoofing in hurling that would be an absolute cardinal sin in a game of football." and what exactly would you have the isolated defender do with three players hanging out of him?
Hurling has become more of a possesion (hand-passing to a better placed player) but you can't hand pass the sliotar in the same way you can a football - and why would you want with a stick in your hand anyway.

This humping it is a bit of cliche really - believe it or not even 12 year olds can hit (on the run) a 40 yard cross field pass, and perish the thought, but so can the fairer sex.

stick to watching the football - its far slower.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4953 - 21/09/2012 10:49:38    1270007

"Also it sometimes looks a tougher game than football, I think this is down to the fact that you can do less pulling and dragging with a hurl in your hand"

This is an excellent point

Count_Awesome (Kildare) - Posts: 736 - 21/09/2012 10:56:09    1270012

hurling cant be the better product though it doesnt sell near as much as football so bit of a ridiculous statement using that kind of language when clearly a product is judged on how well it sells

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 21/09/2012 11:44:02    1270060

Of course hurling is better, it's played by more,it gets more through the gates, the TV audiences are always more for hurling, kids up and down country want to play it, i mean it's not like the gaa are saying we could have sold a quarter of million tickets for this Sunday,
Oh wait!!!!!

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 21/09/2012 12:20:00    1270101

arock
"There is an awful lot of hoofing in hurling that would be an absolute cardinal sin in a game of football."
and what exactly would you have the isolated defender do with three players hanging out of him?

So every single hoof up the field happens when a lad has 3 players hanging out of him? Nonsense. To be honest, this is a daft route you are taking. Both sports have 15 players and they all get tackled the same amount in both codes, so every situation in one sport is also in the other. However the end product clearly shows that despite this fact lumping it up the field happens far more in hurling.


Hurling has become more of a possesion (hand-passing to a better placed player) but you can't hand pass the sliotar in the same way you can a football - and why would you want with a stick in your hand anyway.

Actually, it is easier to hand pass a sliotar, u can use just the one hand, the ball is smaller and you can block any attempted blocks with the hurl.


This humping it is a bit of cliche really - believe it or not even 12 year olds can hit (on the run) a 40 yard cross field pass, and perish the thought, but so can the fairer sex.

Any 40 yard ball into the air to a marked man who isnt noticeably better in the air than his man is a 50/50, end of story.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 21/09/2012 12:42:28    1270120