The ancient Irish sport of hurling comes to New York

The world’s “fastest field sport” debuts in November at Citi Field. Four counties will compete in a three-game tournament for the Players Champions Cup, including defending champions Limerick. We’re proud to be the Official Airline of the New York Hurling Classic.

Hurley and sliotar

We’re delighted to announce that we’re bringing our native sport of hurling to Queens in the “New York Hurling Classic”. The four-team tournament takes place on Saturday, November 16. Following highly successful U.S. events at Fenway Park in 2015, 2017 and 2018, a three-game tournament will be played with four counties competing for the Players Champions Cup. Tickets for the New York Hurling Classic will go on sale Wednesday, August 28 at 10:00 a.m. at http://www.mets.com/hurling.

Our partnership with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the GAA will see ‘Ireland’s Ancient Warrior Sport’ played at Citi Field for the first time in the ballpark’s 10-year history. Hurling is widely believed to be the world’s oldest field game. It combines agility, strength and intensity, earning it the reputation as the “fastest game on grass” among its loyal and passionate followers.

Hurlers use a wooden stick called a hurley to hit a small ball called a sliotar (pronounced “slitter”) between the opponents’ goalposts. Points are scored for shooting over the crossbar (1 point) or under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper (3 points). For the New York Hurling Classic, teams will play a modified version called “Super 11s”, which reduces the field to 11 players-a-side, with the only way to score under the crossbar into the net.

Limerick will defend the Players Champions Cup, having won the 2018 Fenway Hurling Classic with a 38-30 victory over Cork. The three other counties competing in the New York Hurling Classic are Wexford, Tipperary and Kilkenny. In addition to the hurling, the event will feature a lively Irish festival complete with Irish food, music and dancing.

For more information about the New York Hurling Classic and to purchase tickets, visit www.mets.com/hurling.