Some of our top hurlers will be in the US this weekend, but it won’t be quite hurling as we know it.
The Celtic Champions Classic, or Super Hurling as it has been dubbed, is a short-form version of our ancient game and an exhibition game will take place at the University of Notre Dame’s Lacrosse Stadium ahead of their college football game against USC later that evening.
As well as a smaller pitch, there are a few new rules for the players to get used to. There will be no points, only goals, and the goals used will be a different shape to traditional GAA posts. If players score from inside the designated goal-scoring zone, they get three points; scoring from outside the zone is worth five.
On top of that, players won’t be allowed to handpass the ball twice in a row, there will be a time-limit on using possession (think basketball shot clock), and doubling on the ball earns you an extra point.
Here is the promotional video being used to promote the game, a blend of some clips of yesteryear and some more recent footage from the hurling championship.
