CANADIAN broadcaster Sportsnet World continue to bring Gaelic Games to a new television audience on the other side of the world as a replay of Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling semi-final was aired to great applause last night.
The thrilling contest between Galway and Tipperary is already being talked up as a modern classic, so the reaction to seeing hurling for the first time on the other side of the Atlantic was predictably positive.
Indeed, Canadians are renowned for their love of fast sports such as Ice Hockey and Lacrosse, so it should come as no surprise that hurling – widely regarded as the fastest game on grass – went down a real treat.
It’s the second game this season that Sportsnet have aired, but Galway’s incredible 0-26 to 3-16 win was a lot more competitive than Kilkenny’s 24-point victory over Wexford earlier in the summer, and the intensity sat well with the Canadian viewers.
Here’s the best of their reaction below, with helpful Irish folk chipping in to clear up any confusion, while some even invited them over to come watch a game in the flesh!
@RinglerunSk how is this not at least a demonstration sport in the Olympics? It's wild from start to finish! #hurling
— Mark Pederson (@Rudyviking14) August 19, 2015
@sheoighie looks awesome, unfortunately it is not something we have in middle of Sask, Canada
— Kirk Pederson (@RinglerunSk) August 19, 2015
This is actually a pretty tense game. Apparently they only play 70 minutes, but score is tied 25-25, 3 minutes extra time #hurling #galvstip
— C Schimpf (@SportsGoth) August 19, 2015
@charmainecrooks c'mon over and watch it in the stadium it's even better.
— Noel Harrington (@HarringtonNoel) August 19, 2015
@LarkinsWSun and they don't get paid #hurling #sn1
— Shane Coleman (@Cokey_11) August 19, 2015
@bonimbibe @Sportsnet Amazing athletes. Also, unpaid. #GAA
— Shane Breslin (@shanebreslin) August 19, 2015
@Helikelsey #Hurling hitting the ball with the stick is called "a puc" - Irish emigrants to Canada were involved in the start of Ice Hockey
— PETER POWER-HYNES (@HIBERNIAN04) August 19, 2015
Nice choke job Tipperary. #Hurling
— Colin Powers (@colin_powers1) August 19, 2015
@AbbyStu So glad you enjoyed it, Abby! Hurling truly is the best sport in the world.
— Play Hurling (@playhurling) August 19, 2015
@ScottGreenwald3 fastest game on grass anywhere in the world.
— Shane Stanley (@ShaneStanley5) August 19, 2015
@balaneski the big final is in three weeks! All amateurs so don't get paid! #Hurling
— Ronan Moran (@ronanmoran) August 19, 2015
