Hurling is a bruising, sometimes bloody sport more than 2,000 years old. In the Middle Ages the English banned the Irish from playing the game but in more recent times it has experienced a resurgence. On Sunday, a nation will be transfixed as Kilkenny and Galway fight it out in the All-Ireland final before a crowd of 80,000 + and a national TV audience. Near impossible for a foreigner to understand “the clash of the ash (sticks)’ is played with teams of 15 on a pitch that can be up to 145m long and 90m wide. Goalposts are similar to those used in rugby. Players may strike the ball on the ground or in the air; they may also pick up the ball (sliotar) with their stick (hurley). Players may also carry the ball in their hand for not more than four steps, after which they may bounce the ball on the hurley and catch it again (but not more than twice). To score, the ball needs to be put over the crossbar for a point, or below the crossbar for a goal (three points).
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