Castlebar Mitchels Hurling
Castlebar Mitchels Hurling Notes - 6 Feb 2006
By Michael Murphy
6, Feb 2006 - 19:14

Suck Valley League

This week we had just one game in the Suck Valley League against Ballinasloe at under 14 level. Unfortunately due to a bad flu in the Ballinasloe area they were unable to field teams at the other levels.

Next week we are away to Ballygar. Details are at the end of the piece.

For the second week in a row Mitchels had an easy win at under 14 level in the Suck Valley League, this time at home to Ballinasloe. Mitchels got off to a great start with two early goals from corner forward Damien McHale. They dominated midfield all through with Michéal Clune and Fergal Durkan playing very well. Two more goals from Alan Gavin and two points each from Micheal Clune and Tony Sweeney paved the way for a 5-4 to 0-0 score at half time.

Ballinasloe started the second half well with an early point and put a lot of pressure on the Castlebar lads, but Mitchels weathered the storm with Nicholas Quinn, Padraig Condon and Richard O’Dea excelling in defence. Goals from Cormac Killion, Jamie Redmond and J. Corcoran and two excellently executed points from Jamie Redmond sealed the issue for Mitchels. The under 14s with 6 points from four games are now joint top of their league.

Next weekends series of games are against the Ballygar Club. The under 12s and under 16 games take place on Saturday while the under 14s and minors play on Sunday.

This weeks lotto draw is on Friday night Feb 10^th in Johnny McHales with the jackpot standing at €12,700. Vincent Conlon and Barry Kelly will be spinning the wheel.

If you are interested in hurling or camogie and would like to get involved in our club as a player, coach, administrator, helper, or supporter please contact somebody on the committee.

Chairperson Tony Stakelum 086 8586842

Juvenile Chairperson Gerry Lane 087 8278705

Senior Manager Ray Coy 087 2021677

P.R.O. Fr. Michael Murphy 094 9043150

Hurling History

Did you know that hurling in the 18^th century was played in a similar style to rugby today. To score a goal back then you had to carry the ball on your hurley through the goalposts. The Captain played at the back and had to be at least 40 yards from the goal unless the ball was closer to it than he was. Three defenders on either side flanked him with the outside two being fleet of foot. This defensive line was known as the ‘Cúl Báire’.

In the middle of the field, and acting like the front row forwards of rugby, you had what were called the ‘Phalanx’. They were usually heavy slow footed men who played together as a unit and fought to win back possession. Behind them there was a line of seven players. The middle three were known as the ‘Whips’, similar to the half backs, and they were flanked on either side by two ‘Flies’, similar to the wingers or centres. When the ‘Phalanx’ won the ball they would hook it or jab it back to the Whips, who would then whip it out fast to the Flies. The Flies were the fastest players on the team and when they got the ball they would put it on the boss of the hurley and try to carry it through the goal posts to score a goal.

The ball was rarely hit forward less possession would be lost, unless the Cúl Báire could be beaten in a run to the line. The ball was passed backwards and occasionally a maul would develop between the two sets of Phalanx. Finally, if you were ahead of the ball, you were offside and if you were offside you were fair game to be struck across the shins with a hurley.

So whenever rugby comes to be played in Croke Park, it may not be so unfamiliar at all!