An RTÉ Nationwide report on the foundation of Super 11's Hurling in 2013.
Super 11’s Hurling – The Story So Far Hurling - the fastest and one of the oldest field games in the world - is a national jewel, not always easily transplanted. We want to spread the unique and skilful game of Hurling as much as possible across the globe - hence Super 11s was born.
The typical GAA pitch (80-90m wide x 130-145 long) is bigger than most sports fields and finding 30 players to stage a game where hurlers are not plentiful can be problematic.
Super 11's hurling helps make it easier for the game to travel to pastures new. It also provides a fresh forum for experimentation and development. A work group was set up in 2013. Trials were held and draft rules prepared. The new game got its first outing on 21 September 2013 at the first ever international hurling festival in Galway. Later that month a Super 11’s game provided the curtain raiser for the All-Ireland replay between Clare and Cork at Croke Park. In October 2013 teams representing Munster and Leinster faced off to coincide with the biggest US College Football showdown of the season when Notre Dame took on arch rivals USC, on the Notre Dame campus at South Bend, Indiana. An enthralling contest featuring top hurlers such as Tommy Walsh, JJ Delaney, Liam Rushe, Lee Chin, Eoin Kelly, Lar Corbett and Donal O'Grady was served up for 5,000 spectators at the University’s Lacrosse Stadium with Leinster emerging victorious.
On 30th August 2014 Super 11’s had another outing in Croke Park as the centrepiece half time entertainment during the College American Football Croke Park Classic when University of Central Florida hosted Penn State in their 2014 Season Opener.
Super 11’s moved on again in November 2015 when Galway and Dublin produced a thrill a minute encounter at Boston’s iconic Fenway Park, fabled home of the Red Sox baseball team, before an enthralled 28000 attendance.
Exciting, fast moving and free flowing, Super 11’s places the emphasis on skill. It is a version of the ancient game designed to meet the needs of the modern international world as well as having huge potential as a coaching vehicle, especially for young players, and offering a very effective means of addressing depleted player numbers in emigration affected areas. Among the key aspects of the game are: Pitch size has been reduced and the teams comprise of 11 players. Goals only, no points. The “tap and go” free. Penalties with only the goalkeeper on the line. Teams not allowed to hand pass the ball twice in a row. The ball cannot be kicked. Substitutions without stoppages in play. Score clock. Super 11’s is an evolving project where innovation and experimentation are the bywords.
In 2018, Super 11s was played for the third time in four years in the iconic Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox. The match report is available here - https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/limerick-win-aer-lingus-fenway-hurling-classic/
Tickets for the New York Hurling Classic 2019 can be purchased here - https://www.mlb.com/mets/tickets/specials/hurling
An official press release from the GAA and GPA will take place on 24 September.
