Hurling in 1863

HURLING IN GEELONG: From the pages of the Geelong Chronicle

Hurling became hugely popular in Geelong in 1863. The sport had been played in Ireland for many years. A similar game, shinty, was played in Scotland.

Not unlike hockey, Hurling involves hitting a ball, with a stick, towards the goal. The hurley, or stick, was generally about three feet (90cms) in length, with one end widened to resemble a paddle. The ball was about the size of a cricket ball with a cork centre and a leather cover. The pitch was a similar shape to a rugby pitch but had larger dimensions.

The rules of the colonial game were few. Players were permitted to bump opponents; could carry the ball by bouncing it on their stick; use their stick to pop the ball up and hit it like a baseball and propel the ball forward; and use their stick to block an opponent’s hit on the ball. Players were not allowed, however, to check their opponent’s shins; shield the ball with their body; trip their opponent; or strike their opponent with the hurley, elbow, fist or head!

In April 1863, the first club formed in the town was the Geelong Cosmopolitan Hurling Club. William Caffrey, a blacksmith, was the club’s first President. Members were predominantly Irish immigrants. Within three months the club had almost 200 members. The club’s games were played on the Comunn na Feinne ground, near the hotel in South Geelong. Early games were intra-club matches until other clubs were established.

By the middle of the year, quite a few new clubs had sprung up in the district: Cowie’s Creek (centred on the Ocean Child Hotel, North Geelong); Duck Ponds (now Lara); Shank Hill (near Pollocksford); Buninyong; and Ballarat. Another Geelong team, the West End Hurling Club, was also formed about this time.

In one match between the Cosmopolitan and West End Clubs, the struggle lasted three and a half hours. In the end the match was drawn, each side having scored a goal but neither side able to score the clincher. There were over 1,000 spectators present. Several Aboriginal visitors watched the game and it seemed to meet with their approval. They saw the hurley as ‘the white man’s waddy’.

By 1865, the hurling craze, which had swept across the colony, had passed. All the local clubs either disbanded or just disappeared, although the game was sometimes played at New Year’s Day festivities in the district.