Hurling summed up.
So Ballygunner hurlers Barry Coughlan, Harley Barnes and Paddy Cooke are out having a few pucks down in Waterford. They’re sharpening up for their Munster semi-final against Thurles Sarsfields later on that day in Walsh Park.
A couple of intrigued Americans have a few questions that need answering. After watching the three lads zinging sliotars up, over and in between cars in a packed car park with some skill, the Americans were wondering what the hell was going on.
Up stepped former Waterford minor Harley Barnes, who plays at half back for the Déise kingpings. In the next few minutes, the UCD lecturer provided the Americans with a perfect, simple synopsis of hurling.
“We’re playing all our lives, so we’re good,” he said to them.
Barnes, known for having a way with the words, was the perfect man to simplify the greatest game on earth for those who wouldn’t have known one end of the hurl from other before he started talking.
It’s hardly surprising that he’s a fitness instructor in Waterford, given his patience and coaching of the Americans.
After going through the basics such as rising the ball, soloing, catching and passing, the American presumed that hurling was a non-contact sport. As you would expect, this drew plenty of laughs from the lads.
So the lads continued to ping balls all over the car-park, and after three or four minutes, the Americans were beginning to get to grips with the hurl and he even controlled a ball with a good first touch.
The video has gone viral, with more than 25.7k upvotes on Reddit.
One of the most Irish Experiences I’ll ever have: Hurling lessons in a parking lot behind Waterford Crystal, a couple guys preparing for the Regional Championships. from r/sports
Ballygunner went onto beat Thurles Sarsfields that day, with the Americans watching on from the stands. Barry Coughlan told us that they were absolutely buzzing watching the match down in the sunny south east.
“We ended up winning and we met the Americans afterwards on the pitch. They were buzzing off it. It was the most random thing ever.”
Fair play to the lads, doing their bit to spread the gospel of hurling.
