Land of confusion

I will tell you about sports played here in Ireland.

Follow me closely now:

'football' is soccer, no hands;

but 'gaelic games' is Irish football, with hands and feet;

'Irish football' is not soccer nor is it football;

It is certainly not Canadian or American football.

'Irish football' is not rugby either.

'Rugby' is rugby.

'Irish football', I will try to explain: it is a game played on a, much larger, soccer field (if I can use such term) with soccer nets and rugby uprights, H shape posts. The main object of the game is to score by kicking or striking the ball (circular shape like a soccer ball, not oval like football or rugby) through the goals.

If the ball goes over the crossbar, a 'point' is scored and a white flag is raised by an umpire. A point can be scored by either kicking the ball over the crossbar, or by fisting it over in which case the hand must be closed whilst striking the ball. The goaltender is basically useless against a point.

If the ball goes below the crossbar, a 'goal', worth three points, is scored, and a green flag is raised by an umpire. A goal can only be scored by kicking the ball into the net, you cannot fist pass the ball into the net. However, a player can strike the ball into the net with a closed fist if the ball was played to him by another player. The goal is guarded by a goalkeeper.

Scores are recorded in the format goal total-point total: Dublin 0-21 Clare 2-14.

Games have been played at Croke Park for over 100 years, boasting a capacity of over 82 000 people. One can buy tickets for a match and even a for a unique pre-match guided tour of the Park. You can check out the dressing rooms and the players lounge, experience the stadium from pitch side via the players tunnel, take a seat in the VIP section and on Premium Level, get a bird’s eye view of Croke Park from the press media centre before you finish your visit in the newly-refurbished GAA Museum. Croke Park is the only stadium world-wide to offer match day tours.

Traditionally fans invade the pitch at the end of the match. The supporters from each team being usually respectful with each other and the players. But lately there have been some incidents involving fans and players. There are major safety concerns about the upcoming semi-finals.

On Bloody Sunday in 1920, during the Anglo-Irish War, a football match at Croke Park was attacked by British forces. 14 people were killed and 65 were injured. Among the dead was a Tipperary footballer.

Sadly, there would be another Bloody Sunday in 1972: "This song is not a rebel song, this song is..."