GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 36 - October 17, 2015 | Page 26

SUPER 11 REVISITED
’S

BY DENIS O’BRIEN
OCTOBER 13, 2015

The final column of the series for this year reflects on the
short form of Hurling called Super 11’s and it’s role out to date.
There was plenty of excitement when a new Hurling type product christened ‘Super 11’s’ was unveiled at the very successful
Aer Lingus International Hurling in Galway two years ago.
This modified game is played on a shortened pitch, with soccer goals, 11 players using a non-raised ridged leather ball. The
scoring sees no points allowed but only goals with three points
when struck from inside the defensive zone and five for a goal
struck outside with a bonus point for a goal struck on the volley. A player cannot kick the ball, or hand-pass twice in succession, with tap and go frees, substitutions without stoppages
and a count-down clock keeping track of time.
THE IDEA
This new form of Hurling was the brainchild of the Gaelic
Players Association (GPA) with chairman Donal Og Cusack
the leading proponent. The idea was that this modified form of
Hurling would be a vehicle to spread the game internationally.
The smaller sized field and fewer numbers plus the tweaking
of the scoring and rules fitted both an international sporting
venue size and play format as well as accommodating low club
or team playing numbers.
The idea was supported by the GAA and Cusack said at the
time that ‘Super 11’s’ was a work in progress while alluding to the
fact that there was a ‘plan’ in place in relation to the game and
promoting it/hurling overseas. The specifics of that plan however were not readily available then or now two years on.

26

Two further games were played – one in October of 2013
in Indiana, US when Munster and Leinster battled at a secondary pitch before a big American college football clash
between University of Southern California (USC) and Notre
Dame. As a spectacle it was a success roping in some 5000
spectators heading to the football game. Then a year later
in Ireland, at another US college game, this time in Croke
Park, Dublin, the Super 11’s format was again played as a
half time spectacle for American supporters attending the
University of Central Florida v Penn State, a college football
season opener.
To this year where the latest event will see Galway and
Dublin hurlers shipped out to Boston in late November to
play the game at the Boston Red Sox famous baseball stadium ‘Fenway Park’ as part of an US Irish oriented sporting w