What do football people think of hurling, and vice versa?

Hotale.com

This is something I've always wondered. Sorry if it's been done before.

In places like Kerry, Donegal and most of Ulster, what are people's opinions on hurling? Like, would it be taken seriously or would there be a bit of an apathetic attitude towards it? Would there have been many watching Tipp and Limerick for example last Sunday?

I love both codes, they're both fantastic, but in the town I live in literally no one takes football seriously. They'd hardly watch a match unless Cork were playing or it was an AI final. Is this the same all around the country in non-football areas?

Sunnyisland

Different strokes for different folks,I like a good game of football as much as a good game of hurling,of course others choose between them which is alright by me :-)

ilovespudss

Hotale.com wrote: »

This is something I've always wondered. Sorry if it's been done before.

In places like Kerry, Donegal and most of Ulster, what are people's opinions on hurling? Like, would it be taken seriously or would there be a bit of an apathetic attitude towards it? Would there have been many watching Tipp and Limerick for example last Sunday?

I love both codes, they're both fantastic, but in the town I live in literally no one takes football seriously. They'd hardly watch a match unless Cork were playing or it was an AI final. Is this the same all around the country in non-football areas?

I'm from east Meath where there's very little hurling played.

I enjoy watching it, and can fully appreciate the skill involved but I've never actually been to a game of hurling, to my shame.

Club hurling wouldn't even be in my radar, the only reason id know it's played would be because we would have a free weekend due to a round of hurling league or championship games.

Fireball07

How about if you're not a football/hurling person?

I like both equally really... I'd say a top-class hurling game is more easy on the eye, but football is still a good game and there are more games of a higher standard than in hurling, I suppose.

Hotale.com

Fireball07 wrote: »

How about if you're not a football/hurling person?

I like both equally really... I'd say a top-class hurling game is more easy on the eye, but football is still a good game and there are more games of a higher standard than in hurling, I suppose.

I'd be a big fan of both myself, with a slight preference for hurling but that just goes with living in a hurling area I think.

I'm just curious what people who are primarily interested in one of the codes think of the other one.

The Pontiac

Roy Keane states..

Keane was in attendance at this year’s final between Cork and Clare and believes that the hurling showpiece holds its own with any sporting event in the world.

“I still think the best sport out there to watch is hurling. My career is focused on soccer but I have great admiration for GAA players.

“If I had a chance to watch any game in the world tomorrow I would go to a hurling match. I’ve been to the Superbowl, Formula 1 racing, Champion’s League matches, but the All-Ireland is up there with all of them as a great occasion.”

Pat Spillane is also quoted as saying Hurling is much better game.

Boom__Boom

Footballing person from Kerry here - hurling just didn't even register growing up in our part of the county [Killarney]

It didn't even rate as a minority sport - pretty much nearly other sport you could care to mention was more popular in school/growing up. It wasnt that there was any hatred or dislike towards it - it just didn't feature in people's awareness as something to take part in. It was (and still is) something you watched on the telly. It was close enough to being on the same level as the other GAA sports of rounders and handball.

It has become a bit more popular but it's never going to come anywhere near football.

Have never been to a hurling game in Kerry ; went to Semple for a Munster final day out once with my uncle and went to a few games in PUC in university.

deadybai

Being from Kilkenny... I have always watched football and I love it. A good game of football is brilliant but that is a very odd occurrence . a bad game of hurling is rare and is still easy to watch. Football doesn't do it self justice wen u see the likes of Donegal playing Derry last week

Danno

South/West Laois here... hurling in this area of the county is king but there is still quite a few that like and follow the football too. I get to many Laois games in hurling, a few in football. Its a tad expensive following two county teams, so I tend to travel for the hurling games and only grab an odd home football game.

Laois is quite evenly split geographically with the hurling/football but the population distribution means that the football folk out-number 5:3 the hurling folk or thereabouts - so this can leave the hurling folk feeling "threatened" by the larger interest at that level.

Danno

deadybai wrote: »

Being from Kilkenny... I have always watched football and I love it. A good game of football is brilliant but that is a very odd occurrence . a bad game of hurling is rare and is still easy to watch. Football doesn't do it self justice wen u see the likes of Donegal playing Derry last week

A rare breed ya are!!!

Dirty Dingus McGee

The Pontiac wrote: »

Roy Keane states..

Keane was in attendance at this year’s final between Cork and Clare and believes that the hurling showpiece holds its own with any sporting event in the world.

“I still think the best sport out there to watch is hurling. My career is focused on soccer but I have great admiration for GAA players.

“If I had a chance to watch any game in the world tomorrow I would go to a hurling match. I’ve been to the Superbowl, Formula 1 racing, Champion’s League matches, but the All-Ireland is up there with all of them as a great occasion.”

Pat Spillane is also quoted as saying Hurling is much better game.

Well if Roy Keane and Pat Spillane say that then it's gospel.

If Pat was playing today I'd be fairly confident he wouldn't be saying hurling was a better game.

Comparing different sports is completely pointless and incredibly tedious.Football and hurling are 2 great games and comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges.

The Pontiac

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Well if Roy Keane and Pat Spillane say that then it's gospel.

If Pat was playing today I'd be fairly confident he wouldn't be saying hurling was a better game.

Comparing different sports is completely pointless and incredibly tedious.Football and hurling are 2 great games and comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges.

It was their personal opinion. You're the only one saying it's "gospel".

So we can never compare two different sports then, because by you logic, it's all "apples and oranges"? How sad.

Maybe some people just prefer Hurling to Football?

Dirty Dingus McGee

The Pontiac wrote: »

It was their personal opinion. You're the only one saying it's "gospel".

So we can never compare two different sports then, because by you logic, it's all "apples and oranges"? How sad.

Maybe some people just prefer Hurling to Football?

You used the argument style "someone famous said something therefore it must be the truth " which I find a particularly arrogant style of argument as it assumes that Roy Keane/Pat Spillanes opinion is more valid than someone elses when in a trivial issue like this nobody's opinion is more valid than another's.

Its pointless comparing things like which is the better film/sport/book etc as invariably what happens is that you can only say something positive so many times before having to resort to negativity and slagging off something as a means of comparison.So I'd be fairly confident this thread will go that way as well.

Football and hurling are 2 completely different sports so I don't think there is much point in comparing them.Some people like football some like hurling and some people enjoy both.

Hotale.com

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

You used the argument style "someone famous said something therefore it must be the truth " which I find a particularly arrogant style of argument as it assumes that Roy Keane/Pat Spillanes opinion is more valid than someone elses when in a trivial issue like this nobody's opinion is more valid than another's.

Its pointless comparing things like which is the better film/sport/book etc as invariably what happens is that you can only say something positive so many times before having to resort to negativity and slagging off something as a means of comparison.So I'd be fairly confident this thread will go that way as well.

Football and hurling are 2 completely different sports so I don't think there is much point in comparing them.Some people like football some like hurling and some people enjoy both.

Couldn't ye just discuss which sport you prefer and why without getting defensive and/or aggressive? If doesn't even have to turn into an argument over which is better, it could simply be a discussion of the positive and negative impacts of each sport and why this causes you to enjoy/dislike each sport.

As field sports go they don't get much more similar than hurling and football. Same scoring system, similar rules around fouling, both are amateur, Irish sports etc.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Hotale.com wrote: »

Couldn't ye just discuss which sport you prefer and why without getting defensive and/or aggressive? If doesn't even have to turn into an argument over which is better, it could simply be a discussion of the positive and negative impacts of each sport and why this causes you to enjoy/dislike each sport.

As field sports go they don't get much more similar than hurling and football. Same scoring system, similar rules around fouling, both are amateur, Irish sports etc.

On organisational level they are very similar but they are completely different apart from that.

The biggest problem football has is the media and the championship structure.

The media have a relentlessly negative attitude to the game and I don't really understand it as it doesn't helps promote the game ans thus attract viewers,listeners and readers.

Until July the football championship can be a little dull because there are a lot of mismatches, hurling doesn't have this issue to the same extent as only the top 12 compete in the championship and so people only get to see high quality teams playing against each other.The league in football is in my opinion is probably more entertaining than the championship (The top 2 divisions in particular) as we get evenly matched teams playing against each other and it results in great entertainment this years league being a prime example.

The Pontiac

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

You used the argument style "someone famous said something therefore it must be the truth " which I find a particularly arrogant style of argument as it assumes that Roy Keane/Pat Spillanes opinion is more valid than someone elses when in a trivial issue like this nobody's opinion is more valid than another's.

Okay, if you show me one quote from a "famous" hurler saying football is a better game than hurling then your argument might be valid.

The simple fact is - it's never said, ever. Another famous "figure" in the sporting world is Eamon Dunphy, and he always claims hurling is the greatest game in the world. He made his living from soccer.

You never hear the phrase "Gaelic Football is the greatest game in the world". I wonder why? Maybe because it's a fairly mediocre game.

Its pointless comparing things like which is the better film/sport/book etc as invariably what happens is that you can only say something positive so many times before having to resort to negativity and slagging off something as a means of comparison.So I'd be fairly confident this thread will go that way as well.

Football and hurling are 2 completely different sports so I don't think there is much point in comparing them.Some people like football some like hurling and some people enjoy both.

Why is it pointless? We can disagree all night long. It doesn't make my opinion correct. It's just my opinion. Some people like football but I can guarantee you the greater number of people prefer hurling. That's just a fact.

Maybe you should start a thread here (with a poll), and then see the results?

Davys Fits

I would like to make it clear that IMO that Hurlers and footballers are both talented sportsmen none more so than the other and often it depends on where you were brought up in which game you will play. When I say that hurling is a better game then its not a jibe at the players, simply I feel the game of hurling has more to offer in terms of skill, speed and passion. Football is more tactical and hence tends to open up more discussion, good and bad.

Skill Magill

Hard to spot

GrandSoftDay

Davys Fits wrote: »

I would like to make it clear that IMO that Hurlers and footballers are both talented sportsmen none more so than the other and often it depends on where you were brought up in which game you will play. When I say that hurling is a better game then its not a jibe at the players, simply I feel the game of hurling has more to offer in terms of skill, speed and passion. Football is more tactical and hence tends to open up more discussion, good and bad.

Funnily enough it's often the best hurlers in a county that are the best footballers too. You see a lot of lads playing county grade at both codes up to u21 in dual county's before they decide what code to concentrate on. Conor McGrath for example is probably in the top 3 footballers in Clare, I watched him at a few club matches and he's a serious footballer.

ciarriaithuaidh

I'll say one thing..one of the worst sections of the GAA I've ever encountered is the "hurling snobs" who truly believe and constantly trumpet the "football is for bad hurlers" sh*t. :rolleyes:

Football would be number 1 for me, but love watching and playing hurling aswell.

Boom__Boom

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

On organisational level they are very similar but they are completely different apart from that.

The biggest problem football has is the media and the championship structure.

The media have a relentlessly negative attitude to the game and I don't really understand it as it doesn't helps promote the game ans thus attract viewers,listeners and readers.

Until July the football championship can be a little dull because there are a lot of mismatches, hurling doesn't have this issue to the same extent as only the top 12 compete in the championship and so people only get to see high quality teams playing against each other.The league in football is in my opinion is probably more entertaining than the championship (The top 2 divisions in particular) as we get evenly matched teams playing against each other and it results in great entertainment this years league being a prime example.

Totally agree about the structure of the football championship versus the hurling championship and the fact that in the league there are usually very few if any mismatches which makes the competition very enjoyable - especially in terms of sitting down to watch a random match.

Including the round-robin qualifier there are 15 teams taking part in the Liam McCarthy this year, whereas there are 33 in the hunt for Sam this year. [33 being in the hunt is a bit of a joke]

If the football championship had a similar number to the hurling championship it would be just the division 1 and division 2 teams and you would have a a hell of a lot less mismatches in terms of games. When you look at the results of the division 4 teams in the football championship over the last few years, and the average score they concede it's very hard to make an argument for Division 4 teams in the Championship.

Last year in the football Championship, Division 4 teams won only 3 games. 1 of these wins was Leitrim's win over New York (not even a league team) 1 was London's 1 point wins over Leitrim (another Division 4 side) and the one win against a Division 3 side was a 1 point win over Sligo who had just avoided relegation to Division 4.

In terms of the Division 4 teams loses in the Championship, there were 11 games where the losing margin was 9 points or more and there were some absolute whoppings in there [loses in points of 27, 26, 19, 18, 17, 16, 11, 10, 9, 9] The other 3 loses were by 4,4, and 1 point. Looking at those results, it's really hard to justify the presence of the Division 4 teams in the Championship. It doesn't do football in these counties any good and it means there are a load of games which are very poor in terms of spectacle and as contests.

Boom__Boom

The Pontiac wrote: »

You never hear the phrase "Gaelic Football is the greatest game in the world".

First 15 seconds into this video - :D:D

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/9339759/gaelic-football-explained

I did find it amusing that not long after reading your post I came across this.

The Pontiac

Boom__Boom wrote: »

First 15 seconds into this video - :D:D

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/9339759/gaelic-football-explained

I did find it amusing that not long after reading your post I came across this.

lol. First time I've ever heard that been said. Each to their own!!

Just wait for the popularity of hurling to take over from football in Dublin over the next decade.

ciarriaithuaidh

Boom__Boom wrote: »

First 15 seconds into this video - :D:D

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/9339759/gaelic-football-explained

I did find it amusing that not long after reading your post I came across this.

Dublin "legend" Mossie Quinn..:o

The Pontiac

Think I'll tune in to Sky Sports tonight for the Kilkenny game. The coverage will be interesting.

It will be 'available' on the net, for those who don't have a sky subscription.

The build-up should be a laugh. Guess they'll ignore the fact that the cats are clear favourites, and make it out as a close-encounter.

Boom__Boom

The Pontiac wrote: »

lol. First time I've ever heard that been said. Each to their own!!

Just wait for the popularity of hurling to take over from football in Dublin over the next decade.

I've no problem if the Dubs go mad for hurling and start spending their sponsorship millions and millions on hurls, helmets and sliothars. :P

Hotale.com

The Pontiac wrote: »

Think I'll tune in to Sky Sports tonight for the Kilkenny game. The coverage will be interesting.

It will be 'available' on the net, for those who don't have a sky subscription.

The build-up should be a laugh. Guess they'll ignore the fact that the cats are clear favourites, and make it out as a close-encounter.

Didn't they have a great game last year? Offaly scored 6 goals or something if I remember correctly...

You'd never know. Could happen again... :rolleyes:

Boom__Boom

The Pontiac wrote: »

Think I'll tune in to Sky Sports tonight for the Kilkenny game. The coverage will be interesting.

It will be 'available' on the net, for those who don't have a sky subscription.

The build-up should be a laugh. Guess they'll ignore the fact that the cats are clear favourites, and make it out as a close-encounter.

They really picked a dead duck of a game to start things off.

Was talking to a pub owner and he's hopeful that there will be a bit of boost in terms of lads coming out a bit early to check out the action tonight.

He says that normally GAA games being broadcast on television has no impact whatsoever on his business, especially compared to soccer and even rugby.

The Pontiac

Hotale.com wrote: »

Didn't they have a great game last year? Offaly scored 6 goals or something if I remember correctly...

You'd never know. Could happen again... :rolleyes:

Think Kilkenny will be more prepared this time, but you never know.. Offaly have four players making their championship debut. Been on SKY, I'm sure they'll be out to make an impression..

Boom__Boom wrote: »

They really picked a dead duck of a game to start things off.

Was talking to a pub owner and he's hopeful that there will be a bit of boost in terms of lads coming out a bit early to check out the action tonight.

He says that normally GAA games being broadcast on television has no impact whatsoever on his business, especially compared to soccer and even rugby.

It will be interesting to see the pub trade around Kilkenny and Offaly. Normally the pub trade wouldn't see a boost for GAA games, but the fact it's a SKY exclusive and not many can afford a sky subscription nowadays.

Thought myself SKY would have waited for the Leinster final for their opening game.

Gary Neville

I was at a double-header league fixture in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork, a few years ago. Cork v Galway in hurling and Cork v Kerry in football. It really brought it home to me that hurling is a much better game to look at. I follow Cork in both codes but hurling is so fast and with so many scores, it's far more exciting IMO.

The black card may help to improve football but as someone else poster, when you have a game line Derry v Donegal, it can be hard to watch for a neutral.

Mal-Adjusted

I come from a predominately hurling area. I would rarely go to a football match and the only ones iv'e been to were double headers with the hurlers, but i'd still make sure to see both matches. That being said, i'd still always watch football if it was on t.v and keep an eye on fixtures. They're both great games.

Consey

I know a lad who played hurling to a decent level (Leinster U-21) winner and he played his first game of football under protest ( at a very junior level) a couple of years ago.

He couldn't get over the different skills involved, the physicality trying to even get the ball away with a lad up your back never mind get a score under pressure etc etc

For the armchair fans these factors may not he appreciated and for lads or ladies who haven't played both it wouldn't be appreciated.

Both sports are played on the same pitch, but are quite different. To me, a hard won 0-8 to 0-7 football match is as compelling as a 5-14 to 2-23 hurling score fest where no one has laid a finger on anyone else

But that's just me. We're lucky to have two great sports to light up the summer when other places have nothing to look forward to outside World Cup years............

iDave

Its all GAA as far as I'm concerned

Warper

I think the best gauge is asking someone that is not from the country as to which game is more entertaining. Any foreign person that i have encountered prefer hurling.

citykat

As a KK fan it'll surprise nobody that Hurling is no. 1 for me. Played gaelic underage though and loved it. Watch very little gaelic now maybe AI semi(s) and final and that's it.

lertsnim

I'll watch my club play football. not bothered about it after that. I'd watch any hurling match.

Kerrydude1981

Im from North Kerry where hurling is the number 1 game,of course football is played but the passion for hurling down here is the same as you would find in any of the traditional hurling counties.

MayoAreMagic

I don't really enjoy hurling. There is too much hoofing up the field and hacking around on the ground for me. I have tried to watch it but it just doesn't appeal to me. There are some fine abilities on display but as a game it is a bit too helter skelter. You couldn't get away with all that hoofing in football, you would have cost your team the game. Personally, I find football to be the superior game.

citykat

Why is it even called football any more? There are way more hand passes than kicks in the modern game. I think it should be called handball 2.0 or handpassball.

Dirty Dingus McGee

citykat wrote: »

Why is it even called football any more? There are way more hand passes than kicks in the modern game. I think it should be called handball 2.0 or handpassball.

The ball is barely kicked in American football.Rugby Football consists of mainly throwing the ball.

Hand passing in Gaelic footballs version of short pass.In almost every single sport short passes outnumber long passes so football is no different in that regard.

ciarriaithuaidh

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

Im from North Kerry where hurling is the number 1 game,of course football is played but the passion for hurling down here is the same as you would find in any of the traditional hurling counties.

Not really. Draw a circle from the mouth of the Feale to Ballyduff-Lixnaw-Abbeydorney-Ardfert...outside that circle there is no hurling played. (Apart from Duagh who have set up a junior team in recent years.
Go to a North Kerry football final and go to a North Kerry (or even Co C/ship) hurling game and compare the crowds. Hurling has its pocket, but there are 16 football clubs in the region, 9 Hurling. More players and more interest overall in football, not that I don't admire the clubs for continuing to keep hurling alive in the county.

Lone Gunman

Ill pitch my flag right out of the gate, hurling is by far the more superior sport. Speed, agility, fitness, bravery & skill will always set hurling out against any other game on the planet.

However folks who haven't the skill, fitness and bravery to play the ancient game need something to play, enter Foolsball. Dont get me wrong I enjoy watching the big ball on TV from time to time, but recently I have gotten fed up of watching the soccer/rugby hybrid that the game is being dragged towards. Oh & dont get me started on the diving and play acting that is happening all too often.

No give me 15 lads committing GBH at breakneck speeds any day.

LeoB

Im from a football area in North Dublin and for me Hurling is the best game in the world.

It never ceases to amaze me the skill, speed reflexes and strength. While Hurling and Camogie are both growing a good rate football is still the most followed game in these parts. It will take another 20 years to really bed down.

I think the thing I like most above what I have already mentioned is there seems to be a great commeradery among the hurling community, a respect for each others ability which I believe is unequalled in any sport I have seen

ciarriaithuaidh

Lone Gunman wrote: »

Ill pitch my flag right out of the gate, hurling is by far the more superior sport. Speed, agility, fitness, bravery & skill will always set hurling out against any other game on the planet.

However folks who haven't the skill, fitness and bravery to play the ancient game need something to play, enter Foolsball. Dont get me wrong I enjoy watching the big ball on TV from time to time, but recently I have gotten fed up of watching the soccer/rugby hybrid that the game is being dragged towards. Oh & dont get me started on the diving and play acting that is happening all too often.

No give me 15 lads committing GBH at breakneck speeds any day.

Yeah good man..you've just about enscapsulated every stupid stereotype hurling snobs have on football there...More "fitness, bravery, speed, agility"..if you think that then you've either never seen a top class football game in your life or are choosing to ignore it.

I feel sorry for you if you really believe such nonsense and don't embrace the unique skills of both hurling and football.