The GAA

Today was the big football final. I'm not talking American football, nor do I mean soccer futbol. No, this is Gaelic football. Pub-goers claim it has been around for well over 1000 years in Ireland. (One guy was telling me this 1000-yr stat, and another laughed and mentioned that Jesus Himself played this game. Then guy #1 clarified with "in Ireland.") I have to tell you, I find it fascinating. There are 15 players from each team on the field at one time. The ball can be held for three steps, but then must be bounced, kicked, or passed. A point is made by kicking the ball over the bar, and a goal (worth three points) is made by scoring a goal. There are no pads; the only penalty I saw was for tackling a player when he wasn't holding the ball; and a few small brawls broke out on the field with no one caring too much.

Gaelic football, along with hurling (the oldest field sport known to Europe), make up the games of the GAA or Gaelic Athletic Association. Matches are played on Sundays at Croke Park in Dublin. My host John says that it is impressive that the GAA has such a stadium because it is, in fact, an amateur league. The players are not full timers, and they have other occupations during the off-season. The GAA saved up for years to build this stadium for the Irish sports. I watched the intermediate women's hurling final last week--incredible speed and skill!

Back to the fixture of the day, the men's senior football final, Dublin v Mayo. I was cheering for Mayo because I was wearing their color (green) and because they haven't won the final in over 65 years. A woman at Elizabeth Fort in Cork told me today that Mayo is always a bridesmaid, a contender but never a winner. She also said that Mayo may be cursed. Supposedly, the last time the team won, they made a ruckus while passing a funeral, and a woman cursed them saying that they wouldn't win again until all the players had died. There are still two players from that team alive today.

Mayo started off so strong today (because, obviously, I could tell), and in fact, they didn't know what to do with their own strength and ended up scoring two own goals. Dublin's players were clearly skilled, but they couldn't finish. Wouldn't you know the match ended in a tie? 15-15. And do you know how they break ties in Gaelic football?? The don't. Next weekend, or maybe the weekend after that, the teams will have a rematch. After all the hype of the day, no one even won the game! AND we have to wait two weeks to see how the next match will end!! I'm too American for that kind of patience, I think.

Anyways, I watched the match at a pub in Cork, and here's a clip of the fun: