What is Hurling?

Hurling is the national sport of Ireland and is over 3,000 years old. It is a field sport that combines lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer and is the national game of Ireland.

It shares the same scoring system with its sister sport, Gaelic Football. The target is a set of H posts like in rugby but with a net on the bottom section like in soccer. Players on two teams of fifteen use an axe-shaped stick to fire the ball over the crossbar for a point or into the net for three points.

The game has been described variously as 'field hockey in the air,' 'brutal field hockey,' 'like lacrosse but with solid sticks' etc.

None of these descriptions really do the game justice. To truly get a feel for the spirit of the sport requires that you see it in action. It exhibits a unique combination of skill, athleticism, stamina and speed that few sports can match. It is acknowledged as the fastest field game on earth. It has the speed and continuous flowing action of ice hockey but on grass.

It is played with a long, curved stick similar to a field hockey stick but with a broader and flat end which allows the player to control the ball in the air as well as on the ground. It is made of ashwood which has just the right properties that allow the stick to flex up to a certain point. The end (the buss) is usually slightly bigger.

The basic rules in Hurling

1. A player can never pick the sliotar (ball) up off the ground with their hands.
2. To pick the sliotar off the ground, a player must use their hurley with two methods, (1) the roll-lift or (2) the jab-lift.
3. A player cannot throw the sliotar; instead the correct hand pass technique must be used.
4. When running, only four steps can be taken with the sliotar in a player’s hand and a player can only posse the sliotar twice during a traveling (running) possession.
5. To take as many steps as the player wishes during a traveling possession, the sliotar must be carried on the boss of the hurley.
6. To score a point(s), the player must hit the sliotar with their hurley through the goalpost or in the goal. Please note that a player can score a point(s) with their hand is the sliotar is in flight.
7. If the sliotar goes through the goalpost, the scoring team receives 1 point. If the sliotar goes into the goal, the scoring team receives three points. Scoring appears as such 3-11. The first number is the number of times your team has scored a goal. The second number is the number of times (points) your team has hit the sliotar through the goalpost.

Why hurling still matters today

Hurling is not just part of Ireland’s history. It is still growing through clubs, schools and county teams. Every season brings new young players through, while top senior teams keep pushing the standard higher. For many supporters, hurling connects local pride, family tradition and elite sport in one game.

That mix of heritage and progress is one reason why club websites should not only explain the game, but also show where the sport is heading now. Supporters want the basics, but they also want fresh stories, current players and signs of what comes next.

Wexford looks to the future

Wexford hurling is now looking ahead with a clear focus on long-term growth. Wexford GAA has launched its Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, setting out the county’s goals for the years ahead. That gives supporters and players a stronger sense of direction as the county works to build on its traditions and develop the next wave of talent.

There is also fresh activity on the field. Wexford GAA has confirmed that the 2026 Leinster Championship programme is under way, while club and underage fixtures are already appearing across the county calendar. The official fixtures and results pages show a busy schedule, with league and development games helping younger players gain experience and keep the talent pipeline moving.

At senior level, Keith Rossiter remains in charge of the Wexford hurlers for 2026, with backroom appointments also confirmed as the county prepares for another important season. Stability in management matters, especially at a time when Wexford is trying to bring through new players without losing its competitive edge.

There is also encouragement coming from within the camp. Speaking recently, Lee Chin said the mood around Wexford is strong and pointed to the energy in the squad, with young blood coming through ahead of the championship. That sense of renewal is a good sign for supporters who want to see Wexford stay competitive while building for the future.

For Wexford, the future is not just about one season. It is about building a stronger county structure, supporting clubs, improving coaching and giving young hurlers a pathway to senior level. That is the kind of work that keeps a proud hurling county moving forward.

Sport beyond hurling

Hurling will always be at the heart of this club, but many GAA supporters also keep a close eye on the wider sports world. Soccer, rugby and other major games are part of the weekly sports talk for many players, members and fans, too.

The English football season is moving into a big stretch, with the 2026 Premier League title race tightening and the FA Cup semi-finals now close. Arsenal are still top, but their lead over Manchester City has been cut to three points after City beat them 2-1 on 19 April, with Pep Guardiola’s side also holding a game in hand. The same week also brings confirmed FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, with Manchester City facing Southampton on 25 April and Chelsea meeting Leeds United on 26 April.

There is plenty happening lower down the table and across the race for Europe too, but the biggest spotlight remains on the clubs who keep driving the news cycle. Liverpool added another major result on 19 April when they beat Everton 2-1 in the Merseyside derby, with Virgil van Dijk scoring a late winner, while Manchester United followed up their loss to Leeds with a 1-0 away win at Chelsea on 18 April. It all adds to the sense that every round of fixtures is now shaping the final picture of the season.

Transfer talk is never far away either, especially when Manchester United are involved. One of the names now drawing attention is Ruben Neves, the former Premier League midfielder who has been backed as a possible fit for United. With his top-level experience and strong range of passing, he is the kind of player who quickly becomes part of the conversation when midfield changes are being discussed at Old Trafford.

FAQ

Where are the games played?

Gaelic Games are predominantly played in Ireland. In the San Francisco Bay Area, the local championship games are played in Boxer Stadium at Balboa Park, San Francisco at weekends. The North American finals are played in different cities on different years. In 2004 they were played in Boulder Colorado. In 2003 they were played in Chicago. The North American Finals are always played over the Labor Day weekend.

When does the season run?

The local GAA season runs from April through August. April is when the teams start to recruit and warm up with some light training sessions. May sees the start of the St Patrick's Cup, a warm-up tournament with smaller teams and more relaxed rules that help the teams to get warmed up for the proper championship. In Ireland, the inter-county All-Ireland championships run from May through September. The club All-Ireland championship runs through the winter and the finals are played on St Patrick's Day.

What is the GAA?

The Gaelic Athletic Association is the governing body of the Gaelic Games of Hurling and Gaelic Football. It also governs such games as Rounders and Handball. It is a totally amateur, non-profit, community-based organisation whose remit includes the promotion of Irish culture as expressed through sport, poetry, song, dance, and music.