Here at NetBet, we’ve got a whole load of great markets for sports betting, and we offer some of the best Gaelic Hurling odds around. We don’t just take bets on individual races; we offer online betting on plenty of deeper markets on our UK betting site. If you want to place any sports bet, here’s a quick guide on how exactly you should go about it.
What Is Gaelic Hurling?
Irish Hurling, or Gaelic Hurling, is a traditional Irish sport with ancient Gaelic origins and an extensive history that goes back over 3000 years. Administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, Hurling remains one of the most popular sports in Ireland, second only to Gaelic Football. It is the fastest outdoor field sport in the world in terms of gameplay and is played with a curved wooden stick called a camán or hurley and a ball, known as a sliothar, which is the size of a tennis ball.
This field invasion sport is often compared to hockey, but other than the involvement of a similar ball and stick, there is no other semblance between the two games. However, it is often described as a cross between lacrosse and field hockey.
A game of Gaelic Hurley plays out on a rectangular grass pitch and comprises two teams, with each side having 15 players – six forwards, two mid-fielders, six defenders, and a goalkeeper. There are two H-shaped goalposts – with a net extending under the cross-post – on each side of the field. The objective of the game is to use the wooden stick (hurley) to ‘hurl’ the ball (sliothar) into the opponent’s goalpost. If the ball goes over the crossbar, one point is scored. Consequently, if the ball goes under the crossbar and into the net, it is worth three points. Whichever team scores the most goals by the end of the game wins.
History Of Gaelic Hurling
The origins of Hurling can be traced back to prehistoric times and is believed to have predated Christianity. The earliest surviving literary references to hurling can be found in the early Irish Brehon law during the 5th century, but the sport had been around for much longer than that.
References to Hurling can also be found in Irish myths and legends. According to Táin Bo Cuailgne, a legendary tale from ancient Irish and Celtic mythology, Cú Chulainn, an Ulster hero, defends himself against a huge guard dog by driving a sliotar (hurling ball) down its throat using a hurler. Similar legends continued to feature in later medieval Gaelic Irish sources.
During their occupation of Ireland, the English banned hurling twice since they feared groups of young men gathering publicly may bode ominously for the British Empire. These bans, however, had little impact on the day-to-day behaviour of the Irish.
By the 18th century, the Anglo-Irish gentry had developed a liking for the sport and would keep teams of players on their estates and organise competitions where one tenant’s team would compete against the others. The popularity of Hurling as a sport flourished during this period, which began to be referred to as “The Golden Age of Hurling”.
After enjoying years of success, Hurling’s popularity declined dramatically and was on the verge of extinction after the Irish Rebellion of 1798, coupled with the Great Famine of 1846-96. However, in 1884, Michael Cusack, an Irish teacher, paired up with a farmer name Maurice Davin and resurrected the dying sport with the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The GAA promoted and formalised the sport, standardised its rules, and organised the annual inter-country championship, an event that remains extremely popular to this very day.
Today, Gaelic Hurling is the national sport of Ireland. It has acquired a cult following in various countries in Europe as well as New Zealand, Argentina, North America, Australia, South Africa, and South Korea.
How Do I Bet On Gaelic Hurling?
Apart from being the heart and soul of Ireland, Gaelic Hurling is an internationally acclaimed sport with fans from all over the world. Given its widespread popularity, it does not come as a surprise that the most reputable bookmakers in the business are offering punters the opportunity to choose from varying odds and bet types to wager on this sport.
At NetBet, you will find an expansive variety of the best betting odds and markets for all major Gaelic Hurling championships and tournaments. When wagering on Gaelic Hurling, you can choose from the following betting markets:
Outright Bets
Outright bets are the simplest and the most common betting market for Gaelic Hurling. With this bet type, you can wager on the result of specific games or tournaments. All you need to do is pick one of the two teams you think will end up winning a match. In the case of tournaments, such as the All Ireland Hurling Championship, you have to predict which team will stand victorious at the end of the championship.
Each tournament has both, favourites and underdogs. Betting on favourite teams might be safe, but it will yield lower odds. Consequently, betting on the underdogs might be risky, but they offer attractive odds that can help you win relatively more.
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top-quality sports and markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information.