Whole new ball game as hurling and shinty hybrid matches set for Féile an Phobail

Belfast Telegraph

24-06-2025

Hosted by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, a team of camogie players and hurlers, as well as two shinty squads from Scotland, will play two games to celebrate Antrim GAA's 140th anniversary.
The matches will take place on August 2 as part of the Féile an Phobail.
A male and female shinty side, from Stirling and the Isle of Skye respectively, will take on their Antrim counterparts at Corrigan Park to 'build bridges and connections'.
Shinty shares a similar ancestry to hurling, with versions of both being played 2,000 years ago.
The Scottish sport is thought to have been introduced by Irish settlers in the 17th century and has developed some different rules.
However, to mark the union of the two sports, a combined rules match will be played that will draw on both of the games' styles.
Managing the Antrim side is former county hurler Terence McNaughton, who explained how both sports, despite having their own styles, are 'hundred-mile-an-hour' games.
Mr McNaughton said: 'Shinty is a traditional sport in Scotland, not unlike hurling. It's a field sport — a very fast field sport, too.
'The difference between hurling and shinty is that we're allowed to take the ball in the hand in hurling.
'They don't in shinty. So in this combined rules game, we're not allowed to handle the ball.
'It's a very fast-moving game. It's actually like stepping back in time a bit. Hurling was played for the first time on the ground.
'It's really is hundred-mile-an-hour stuff.'
Antrim's Maeve Kelly and Colleen Patterson will be taking part.
Despite being at the top of their game in camogie, the pair are looking forward to the challenge of the hybrid rules match.
Maeve said: 'It's great to see it showcasing the women's sport.
'They use ground hurling so they don't put it in their hands, so it will be a hybrid model of the rules.
'I think in the past it has been one half camogie and then the second half has been shinty rules.
'It'll be a bit of fun getting used to the different rules.'
West Belfast Presbyterian minister Rev David Moore explained how the matches will be important for fostering connections in the area and hopes to hold events of a similar kind in the future.
'It's letting folk know that we're here in west Belfast and that we want to be part of the community and that we're involved and welcomed in the community,' said Rev Moore.
'And I think from the GAA's point of view, you'll have to ask them what they think, but I think they're very enthusiastic about the idea of doing this and expanding the range of community connections.
'I hope we're expecting to see two very good games.
'The ladies team from the Isle of Skye are one of the best teams in Scotland, I believe.
'And the men's team, they're probably only just getting started, but they're full of very enthusiastic players.
'I think you'll see people who have just come for a nice weekend in Belfast and want to win a game.'