Starting Hurling at 24

Scráib

Simply put, would it be a waste of time starting to play hurling at 24 years old?

Last time I picked up a hurl I was 12 I'd say, and even then I was pretty bad but it's always somehting I would have loved to at least be competant at (My Dad played in an all-Ireland club final back in the day, and I love watching the games).

I mean obviously I'd not make a first team place anywhere but I'd love to give it a shot and not give up on it entirely.

Any thoughts/opinions?

yahoo_moe

Go for it - definitely not a waste of time to give it a bash in some way.

I'm 24 myself and stopped playing from when my juvenile team fell apart (aged about 15/16) till last year - granted I was a good juvenile (some intercounty involvement) with a good set of skills to fall back on but it didn't feel far off a complete fresh slate when I went back and I'm now happily playing junior hurling at a distinctly mediocre level.

If you feel self-conscious, just lump a sliotar against a wall a couple of times a week for a few weeks before going back... and even if you only train, it'll be good fun & good exercise so long as you're not way off the level of the rest of the squad.

thirdmantackle

if you are in Dublin there is a lot of junior clubs who don't care what standard you play at

homerjay2005

ul get cut open mate.....

my dad was a top intercounty hurler, playing in 2 all ireland senior semi finals. me and my brother were raised in the non hurling region,all football, so didnt grow up with hurling. we decided to give it a try, i was 12, he was 18. we both were skillful and could score and play pretty well, however, we just couldn defend ourselves. making silly moves and gettin needless belts. my brother got himself burst open and ended up with 5 stitches. his county championship debut was his last game.

so basically, anybody can play hurling, but to play it right, you need to have a certain skill in you from day 1....natural ability to make the correct decisions in a tight spaces.

mrgaa1

I know a guy who took up hurling at 29 - and is still playing at 41 and loving it. He took to it like a duck to water. You're never too old!!

Pull hard

Yeah I'd say give it a go.
You'd be surprised; a lot of clubs with more than one senior team will often need to fill places on the B and C teams, and they're often way more fun than the senior teams, where the competition and pressure to win all your games takes over.

phil

It wasn't hurling, but from someone who's taken up multiple sports (again) in my early to mid-twenties, it is worth a shot.

Some people take to certain sports more naturally than others, and you will be mentally 6-7 years behind some senior hurlers, but if you're athletic enough, you can often make up for your lack of skill with your athleticism and if you're willing to put in the effort you can start to get appreciably better. Remember, at the twenties level, most people are not improving. Most people do not get more skillful, only bigger, stronger, cuter. Your skill level will improve significantly if you're willing to practice. Hey, you may even be lucky enough to take to it fairly naturally.

Hurling is a wonderful sport and there's no better way to appreciate the game than to have participated. Even if it's only for a year or two, you will find that you look at players and games in a slightly different manner.

My 2c

silliegillie

Give it a go sure youve nothing to loose. I played both up until I was 21. Im 30 now. Wasnt too bad at footballer but was a terrible hurler. For the past 4 years every year my resolution is to get a transfer to the club im livin near now. I havnet done it. I went training for hurling with them once and didnt go back(was working shift at the time so it was hard). I should have stayed at it. So go for it. Your only 24 still you may have another 20 years to play and be involved with the junior grades.

ShagNastii

heading back to UCD and going to join this year, Haven't played in two years, sure to be cut open

Agus

No reason why not... for example Seán Kelly former GAA president took it up for the first time when something like 30 and played successfully at junior... nothing to lose