John Ó'Ríordáns Blog

I was pucking around a ball in the Hurling Pitch in Centennial Park in Toronto and caught my Hurley on the ground and cracked it! Oh no!

So I went to Rona yesterday and got myself a vice grips, some wood glue and masking tape. It’s drying outside at the moment. I guess now I have to play the waiting game. I really hope it works because I don’t see many Hurley makers around here.

The video below tells the story of a group of US soldiers who watched a game of hurling on their way back to the US from Iraq via Shannon. They were so impressed with the “warrior aspect” of the game that they started their own team when they got back to the US. In an area with no great Irish influence and no prior hurling team they founded a team with no Irish members. It shows that Hurling could be a much more popular game if promoted more heavily outside of Ireland. But that is very difficult due to the small numbers of people playing. Which is a real pity.

There was a documentary made by the US Military about these players which is well worth a look. You can find the video entitled “Two Fields, One Team” below.

Found on The Journal

MMA ain’t got nothing on Hurling :)

A few minutes before the end of the Cork v Waterford Munster Final yesterday the ball was sent wide by Waterford’s Dan Shanahan. For some unknown reason the umpire gives a 65. It goes over and now (after a Ben point at the other end) there is just a goal between the teams. Waterford attack once more with only seconds left and the ball goes wide. Me and all of the other Cork Supporters go crazy. That has to be it.

However at this stage the ref looks around at the poor attendance and probably realises the Munster Council haven’t made the money they would have expected to on this match. So he decides to give Waterford a free in. Seconds later the ball is in the back of the net. And the game is over. Replay! A joke!

Looking at the analysis after the match in the Sunday game in the Greyhound Track Bar across from Semple even the RTÉ analysts can’t figure out what the free was for. But I can. It’s widely believedthat statistically there are far more plays in GAA inter-county games than there should be for a game with such varied and high scores. Referee’s must be given incentives to play for replays in big matches.

In fairness to the Munster Council the game will be on next Saturday night which is a great time for a Final to be on. It should be some craic in Thurles that night. But I won’t be there. For the first time in year’s I’m not going to the Munster Hurling Final. Maybe the first time ever as far as I can remember. I don’t appreciate being taken for a fool. And I won’t be fooled twice.

An old video about the Hurling Strike but I’ve only come across it today.

Read this in the Hogan Stand today.

Cork boss Denis Walsh has confirmed Timmy McCarthy’s retirement from inter-county hurling.

The Castlelyons farmer was one of the most decorated hurlers in the modern game, winning All-Ireland titles at senior, under 21, minor and intermediate level. He also won a National League medal in his debut season of 1998 and an Inter-provincial medal with Munster in 2007.

McCarthy, who represented the Rebels in both hurling and football up to under 21 level, first came to prominence with the famed hurling nursery St. Colman’s, Fermoy before going on to win an All-Ireland minor medal in 1995 with Donal Og Cusack and Sean Og O hAilpin among his team-mates.

The flying half forward, who often came in for unfair criticism from Cork fans, won back-to-back All-Ireland under 21 titles in 1997 and ’98 before helping the Rebels to Liam McCarthy Cup glory in 1999.

McCarthy garnered two more All-Ireland senior medals in 2004 and 2005. In all, he won five Munster SHC medals and was a key player for divisional side Imokilly in their 1997 and ’98 Cork SHC successes.

“Timmy has been a fantastic servant to Cork over 10 years or so,” fellow East Corkman Walsh said.

“I was always a big fan of his and his style of play and he’s a player that owes Cork hurling nothing.”