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St. Brendan’s seeks hurlers and Gaelic football players for spring season

| 18 Mar 2013 | 04:14
    In hurling, players use a wooden stick called a ìhurleyî to hit a small ball called a ìsliotarî between the opponentsí goalposts either over the crossbar for one point, or under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper for one goal, which is equivalent to three points.
    In hurling, players use a wooden stick called a ìhurleyî to hit a small ball called a ìsliotarî between the opponentsí goalposts either over the crossbar for one point, or under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper for one goal, which is equivalent to three points.
    The 2012 St. Brendanís hurling team, in the back row, from the left: Coach Rob Ronayne, Coach Stephen Oí Shea, Stephen Moloney, Sean McCarthy, Aiden Mahoney, Graig Edmonds, Timmy Curtin, Liam Ronayne and Coach Aiden Mahoney Sr.; and in front: Niall Moloney, Brendan McNamara, Jack Mahoney, Ethan Mullahy and John Oí Sullivan.
    The 2012 St. Brendanís hurling team, in the back row, from the left: Coach Rob Ronayne, Coach Stephen Oí Shea, Stephen Moloney, Sean McCarthy, Aiden Mahoney, Graig Edmonds, Timmy Curtin, Liam Ronayne and Coach Aiden Mahoney Sr.; and in front: Niall Moloney, Brendan McNamara, Jack Mahoney, Ethan Mullahy and John Oí Sullivan.

MONROE — The Monroe-based St. Brendan’s Gaelic Football and Hurling Club is seeking members for its spring season.

Hurling practice is beginning shortly at Primo Sports in Florida every Sunday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The sport is for boys ages 10 to 12. This year, a U12 team has been added.

Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, overseen by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for more than 3,000 years, and is thought to be the world’s fastest field team game in terms of game play.

A team is made up of 15 players, or “hurlers.”

It shares a number of features with Gaelic football, such as the field and goals, number of players and much terminology.

Hurleys and sliotars
The object of the game is for players to use a wooden stick called a “hurley” to hit a small ball called a “sliotar” between the opponents’ goalposts either over the crossbar for one point, or under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper for one goal, which is equivalent to three points.

The sliotar can be caught in the hand and carried for not more than four steps, struck in the air, or struck on the ground with the hurley. It can be kicked or slapped with an open hand (the hand pass) for short-range passing. A player who wants to carry the ball for more than four steps has to bounce or balance the sliotar on the end of the stick and the ball can only be handled twice while in his possession.

Recruitment is also taking place for coed Gaelic football for U8 through U18 division teams. Practice begins on March 27.

“Come give it a try,” said Stephen O’Shea, one of the club’s officers. “It costs nothing. You will have a lot of fun while learning a new sport.”

St. Brendan’s is Orange County’s only Gaelic Football Club and was established in 2001. Its U10 and U12 team won league titles last fall.

Essential information
To learn more about hurling, call Coach Robert Ronayne at 614-5526 or email to: Robert_ronayne@bshsi.org.

To learn more about Gaelic football, call Stephen O’Shea at 347-723-8282 or email to: soshea64@hotmail.com; or visit: www.stbrendansgfc.org.

— Nancy Kriz