Following on from the spectacular showcase of the recent All-Ireland hurling final, we’re here to teach you why hurling is the greatest sport in the world.
Forget rugby; Forget football; Forget boxing. Hurling is the greatest sport in the world – and we’re here to tell you why.
Having been streamed live on the BBC for the first time in history this year, the All-Ireland hurling final captivated first-time viewers from all across the UK.
This traditional Gaelic sport has proven popular across the Emerald Isle for generations – and now it’s attracting a whole new audience.
Attracting a brand new audience – streaming to UK viewers
The All-Ireland Hurling Final took place in Dublin’s Croke Park on Saturday, 21 July – and it was certainly a moment that will go down in sporting history.
Winning their first Liam MacCarthy Cup in over a decade, a victorious Clare team took the title in a single-point win over Cork. With incredible moments from both sides, the match will surely go down in history as one of the best of all time.
What’s more, the match was streamed by the BBC for the first time in history, amazing viewers from across the UK who were witnessing this ancient Gaelic sport for the first time.
Calls for more coverage next year – UK viewers react
Reacting to the match, UK viewers made their amazement clear on social media.
Dan, an X user from Wales, wrote, “BBC 2 is showing hurling, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so invested in a game I know nothing about.”
Meanwhile, other spectators quickly noticed how the sport reminded them of one of their favourite childhood games.
One user wrote, “Hurling appears to be a mix of UFC, rugby, hockey, football, baseball, the egg and spoon race all whilst hitting a snooker ball as hard as you can as high into the sky as possible towards goal with what looks like the bones of a tomahawk steak.
“10/10. Would recommend.”
What makes the sport so special – excitement, competition, and sportsmanship
Now, you don’t have to tell us twice how special this sport is – we think hurling is the greatest sport in the world. So, here are just a few reasons why we love it…
- It’s one of the fastest games in the world. The sliotar moves at an incredibly high pace and will barely be seen in the same player’s hand for more than a few moments.
- It brings together a huge diversity of skills. From running to contact to speed to goal-scoring, hurling combines various elements of the world’s most popular sports.
- It’s tough and unpredictable. Due to the high speed of play, hurling is also regarded as one of the most difficult – and dangerous – sports in the world. Players need to be in the right place and know exactly what they’re doing to avoid accidents and mistakes.
- The women’s game, known as camogie, is just as popular. In most sports, you’ll see the support for women’s matches falls much lower than the men’s. However, camogie boasts just as big a following as hurling in Ireland.
That’s just a few reasons why we think hurling is the greatest sport in the world – and the list could go on forever. If you missed the match, you can watch it on BBC iPlayer now.
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