Last night a replay of Kilkenny vs Wexford in the Leinster semi-final was broadcast on Canada's Sportsnet One. As tends to happen, when hurling appears in the media outside Ireland, the locals were rather perplexed. As we all know, there's a thriving Irish community in Canada and that has resulted in plenty of GAA clubs populating some of the country's great cities.
Perhaps someone at Sportsnet came across a game one day or perhaps they hired someone from Kilkenny and stuck it on just to shut him/her up but, for whatever reason, they decided they'd broadcast hurling to the masses.
And, as happens every time something like this crops up (granted, quite often) the masses were intrigued.
I've just discovered Hurling on @Sportsnet I might stop covering hockey to cover this thing.
— Matt and DJ (@IceDogsThisWeek) June 26, 2015
@Sportsnet What is this Hurling thing on SN1 that is somewhat mesmerizing? Baseball+lacrosse+rugby+cricket+soccer = #Hurling.
— #LongSteve (@stillnotadoc) June 26, 2015
How have I not heard of the sport 'Hurling' until just now. #psychos #awesome I want to play even though I won't walk again
— Dave Robinson (@franklloydwrite) June 26, 2015
#sportsnet showing hurling. What the hell is hurling? At least I now know where old hockey helmets go to die! #bringbackmonstertrucks
— I’mVaccinatedRU🇨🇦 (@Leighton0123) June 26, 2015
R. Wallin was particularly enthralled.
What in the f%&k is this on SportsNet One in Canada right now??!! lmfao!!! They call it a sport!!!!
— R.Wallin (@wallin_r) June 26, 2015
Its so f%&k'd up but there's more people there than at a @TorontoArgos game!!!! bahahaha
— R.Wallin (@wallin_r) June 26, 2015
When I looked at the on screen guide, its called "Hurling".When I seen it I thought it was like the national puking championships or sumth'n
— R.Wallin (@wallin_r) June 26, 2015
Why do they even bother having a goalie??!! rrlmfao!!!!!! #Hurling
— R.Wallin (@wallin_r) June 26, 2015
I can't tell if those numbers at the top of the screen is the score or the injury/fatality count! #Hurling
— R.Wallin (@wallin_r) June 26, 2015
@nielsonTSN1260 We are a Hurling city. Hurling? What kind of sport is that? Aussie Rules meets Lacrosse. BIZARRE
— Nick Cosentino (@NPC76) June 26, 2015
Watching a game/match of hurling for first time. Only clear rule so far is all players must wear 1970s era hockey helmets.
— John O'Shaughnessy (@joshaughnessy) June 26, 2015
Best I can figure, Hurling was invented by violent pizza makers with ADHD
— Arch (@Archaeologuy) June 26, 2015
@Buz_Meg @Nolan_C_Kelly I thought Irish Hurling was just what I called the morning after I get into a fight with a bottle of Jameson's
— Don (@TheFalconer) June 26, 2015
We'll forgive Lauren for not knowing that Woodenspoons is, in fact, an entirely different and much more violent sport that was once played by terrified children and fed up parents/grandparents.
Just discovered a new sport #hurling Kilkenny vs Wexford #sportsnet #woodenspoons
— Lauren (@lolost7) June 26, 2015
Big thanks to Hurling Crazy for pointing this out to us.
