HURLING made waves like never before across the UK on Sunday as the All-Ireland final was broadcast to its biggest-ever BBC audience.
Its coverage was star-studded featuring the likes of Dara O’Briain and Siobhán McSweeney.
Yet it was three of its more typical analysts who produced the most lasting image from the broadcast – intentional or otherwise.
Twitter users joked that the outfits worn by Limerick star Séamus Flanagan, Antrim great Neil McManus and Kilkenny legend Paul Murphy were akin to the three stages of wedding attire for Irish men.
That they were sat in chronological order was the cherry on top.
One viral post of them sat together was simply captioned: “Stag party/wedding day/day after.”
McManus clearly enjoyed the gag as he approvingly retweeted it.
It was impossible not to notice the widespread reaction across the Irish Sea by British people who had never watched or even heard of hurling before.
While the showpiece games in football as well as hurling have been shown on BBC Northern Ireland before, this was the first time it had ever been beamed across BBC Two en masse.
The sub-genre of Brits swept up in the drama only added to what was an incredible sporting occasion on the pitch.
Among the best tweets, Matthew wrote: “Hurling appears to be a mix of UFC, rugby, hockey, football, baseball, the egg and spoon race all whilst hitting a snooker ball as hard as you can as high into the sky as possible towards goal with what looks like the bones of a tomahawk steak.
“10/10. Would recommend. #hurling”
Similarly Wales native Dan added: “BBC Two is showing hurling and I don’t think I’ve ever been so invested in a game I know nothing about.”
The physicality of Gaelic Games is always going to stand out to anyone who is primarily exposed to the melodramatic antics of Premier League soccer players.
And on that point, Annie tweeted about referee Johnny Murphy: “We’re watching the hurling on BBC 2.
“Never seen it before and there seems to be no obvious rules.
“There’s a lot of contact and even the ref has been injured but it’s exciting to watch!”
The former Limerick minor footballer and hurler did sustain a cut to the head when he collided with the helmet of a player during one of the thriller’s typically frantic passages of play.
He has copped some flak over not blowing for a Cork free-in during the final play of extra-time.
However, he did an excellent job overall and more than contributed to what was one of the best matches you’ll ever see in any sport.
The Rebels do also have several near-misses of their own doing to rue too.
It was a game neither team deserved to lose on the day which has kick-stated a wider debate over whether finals should be brought to replays once the regulation 70 minutes fails to produce a winner.
