AFTER ALL THE talk, the day is finally here.
Sky Sports’ coverage of the GAA Championships begins this evening when they show Kilkenny and Offaly in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship and we want to know what you think their opening lines should be.
So picture the scene:
Here’s what some of our writers said could happen.
“Welcome to Nowlan Park. Let’s get set for Kilkenny and Offaly in the ancient Irish sport of hurling.
What is hurling you ask? It’s like hockey mixed with murder.”
…Cue Rage Against The Machine ‘Killing In The Name Of’ playing in the background.
“Thousands of years ago, in Irish mythology, CúChulainn slayed a beast using just a hurley and a sliothar.
“Today, Offaly attempt the same thing.
“This is Ireland, this is Sky Sports, this is hurling.
“AND IT’S LIVE.”*Roll VT with diddley-eye music and hurling*
“Some look at things that are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?”
“In 1832, John J Hurling was walking home from a day of menial yet rewarding labour in Cahirciveen went he spied a blackened potato on the side of the road.
Sickle in hand, Hurling lofted the sickly spud, spun it airborne and sent it spinning between two birch trees.
The sport of hurling was born and Kilkenny, despite their recent woes are The Daddy!
It’s Offaly versus Kilkenny, it’s the All-Ireland Hurling Championship, it’s Sky Sports and IT’S LIVE!”
“We’re pitchside in the town of Kilkenny, Eire to put the mad sporting of hurling on the map.
Now, before we start, here’s Tomás Quinn to tell you how the game is played….”
“Call it the fastest field sport in the world.
Call it Ireland’s oldest game.
Call it the craft of the camán.
Call it the clash of the ash.
Call it Cúchulainn’s. Call it Christy’s.
Call it teachers, bank men, bin men, postmen in their local field on a rainy Tuesday night, doing it all for the love of the club, the parish and the county.
Call it 80,000 loyal worshippers packed into Croke Park on the first Sunday of September, hoping and dreaming.
Call it King Henry and his nine All-Ireland titles… and maybe even a 10th.
It starts tonight, live and exclusive on Sky Sports.
Call it hurling.”
But what about you, what would you say if you were tasked with presenting this evening’s game?
