A new hurling team in Montana? No your eyes are not popping out of your head.
Well done to Naoise Waldron from from Freshford in Kilkenny who seems to have done a fantastic job in starting the first hurling team in Montana, USA.
The UM Grizzly Hurling Club will play its inaugural home tournament in Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday. The hurling match is the first known competitive hurling match to be hosted in Montana.
Waldron helps captain the hurling team and teaches Irish studies at UM.
He started the team after coming to Missoula last fall from Kilkenny, Ireland, when he discovered the school didn't have one to join.
“I just decided I’m not going to stay here for a year and not play hurling,” Waldron said. “With the tradition of Irish people around here, I knew there would be an interest.”
Hurling combines aspects of field hockey, lacrosse and rugby. Players use a lightweight stick known as a hurley to strike a baseball-like ball, known as a silotar, across a lacrosse-sized field.
Players score by hitting the silotar through or above goalposts that resemble a field goal, soccer-goal hybrid. The games often play fast and rough.
The physical nature of the sport can mirror the more physical elements of a rugby match. Hurlers wear a helmet with a face guard, but that’s about all the protection they get.
Hurling in Ireland is comparable in popularity to football in America. Big matches will draw thousands to stadiums on weekends.
Waldron met Brian Barry, another Irish language teaching assistant, once he came to Missoula. They decided to bring their favorite sport to Missoula this past fall.
Interest for the sport didn’t take off right away. The team recruited people through its Facebook page, Irish classes, and word of mouth.
Slowly they gathered enough numbers to field their first practice this last fall.
At the practice, they encountered another problem: They only could manage to gather four hurleys.
Teaching rookies necessary skills like scooping the ball and hitting also proved difficult.
The team slowly got better through a steady practice schedule and a growing roster. Through private support, fundraising and help from Sean Kelly’s, the Grizzlies were able to afford jerseys and equipment.
The club played in its first tournament in Albany, Ore., this past November. The team went 3-1 in the four-team tournament.
Barry said the game served as a good barometer for just how far the team had come from the fall semester.
“Some of the guys, who may have been able to hit the ball 10 yards before, were now smacking it 50 yards or more,” Barry said. “We’d come up in leaps and bounds.”
The hurling squad’s regular season started this spring. Montana participates in the amateur Cascade League where they are undefeated in conference and tied for first.
The club is coming off another tournament win in Portland this past March.
The Grizzlies edged out seven other hurling clubs from around the region to take home the Buffalo Cup, which is now on display at Sean Kelly’s.
Their success didn’t surprise Waldron. He knew what his squad was capable of. The achievement felt more like a validation for his squad and their chances.
“It’s not quite to the standard found back at home, but there’s not too many who aren’t far off,” Waldron said. “It’s been a massive improvement - even the other teams were saying they just couldn’t believe how good we got so quick.”
The McEneany Cup will draw two other teams across the region for an afternoon of hurling competition. The cup was given its namesake for Terry McEneany, the team’s initial financial booster.
Each team is guaranteed two matches during the tournament. An after party will be held at Sean Kelly’s.
The team will play in a tournament in Portland next weekend. In May, the team heads to New York to play in the Gaelic National Championship over Memorial weekend.
After nationals, Waldron will head back home to Ireland. He hopes to not be gone from Missoula for too long.
“I’d love to come back and help to keep it going.” Waldron said. “Especially if we do well at nationals. It'd be an awful shame to just leave.”
Doors open at Washington-Grizzly at noon Saturday. Admission is free to the public. A hurling demonstration explaining the game and rules will be provided before the contests.
The McEneany Cup will help break the tie between the Griz and Red Branch. Waldron said the team is looking forward to the rubber match.
“I’m confident enough,” Waldron said. “Our last tournament we were just getting on it, so I like our chances. I mean we’re at home - can’t really be losing at home now.”
No comments:
Post a Comment