Hurling beats soccer for skill and intensity again

Most Irish people already know that hurling is the best field game in the world — bar none. And if ever conclusive proof of that existed, it was Sunday last (Aug 16), especially for those of us watching the Galway v Tipperary game on TV.

Simultaneously, on another channel, two of the best soccer teams in the world were playing a game at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester — Manchester City v Chelsea.

There were a number of similarities between the two games.

Both attracted a crowd in excess of 50,000 — Croke Park 58,495 and Etihad 54,331. Both began at 4pm.

When the clock ticked over the 70 minutes in Croker it did likewise in Manchester. But that’s where the similarities ended.

Occasionally I switched to the soccer and the difference in skill and intensity was like chalk as from cheese.

Both Martin Tyler and Marty Morrissey are brilliant commentators. But poor Martin had very little occasion to raise his voice, such was the drab nature of the soccer by comparison to the hurling, while Marty was at full volume for almost the whole 73/74 minutes.

And well done Irish Examiner for the best headline of the weekend in relation to that soccer game — ‘Just what the doctor ordered for City’ — Doctor Eva no doubt.

Martin Collins

Cloonalour,

Tralee,

Co Kerry