When hurling burst onto BBC Two for the first time recently, some felt it was like watching a gladiatorial contest on a rollercoaster. 

This year’s All-Ireland final between Cork and Clare was a pulsating 90-minute thrill ride that saw Clare emerge victorious 3-29 to 1-34 after extra time. For many British viewers, it was as if someone had handed them a sport and said, “Here, try to make sense of this!”

The online reaction was a symphony of confusion and amazement. Dan from Wales shared on X, “BBC 2 is showing hurling and I don’t think I’ve ever been so invested in a game I know nothing about.” Meanwhile, others took a more colourful approach to describing the chaos. One observer wrote, “Hurling appears to be a mix of UFC, rugby, hockey, football, baseball, the egg and spoon race all whilst hitting a snooker ball as hard as you can as high into the sky as possible towards goal with what looks like the bones of a tomahawk steak. 10/10. Would recommend.”

Mike Ryan from Cork offered his own take: “Any British people wondering what the story is with Hurling on BBC 2, just imagine two teams of Roy Keane, but they all have a large weapon in their hands.”

The scene at Croke Park also baffled many accustomed to the more segregated stands of English football. “Everyone is integrated but there’s fierce competition,” remarked James Nesbitt, who was clearly impressed by the atmosphere, if not entirely sure what was happening.

The enthusiasm was echoed by other viewers. One fan mused, “This needs to be on TV more. I would watch the s*** out of this!” Another simply exclaimed, “Watching the hurling on BBC. Know nothing about it. Fabulous stuff.”

In the end, hurling on BBC was a hit, if only because it had everyone scratching their heads while marveling at the madness. And who knows? The sport might just be the next big thing in British TV — once everyone figures out the rules, of course.

Main picture: Hurling action. Credit: GAA.ie Cover photo: A hurling game in Queensland. Credit: Irish Queenslander