hurling

Stick-and-ball game played between two teams of 15 players each, popular in Ireland. Its object is to hit the ball, by means of a curved stick, into the opposing team's goal. If the ball passes under the goal's crossbar three points are scored; if it passes above the crossbar one point is scored. First played over 3,000 years ago, the game was at one time outlawed. The rules were standardized in 1884, and are now under the control of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The premier competition, the All-Ireland Championship, was first held in 1887.