Tully Sirin Manhandles Lissummon

IF GAELIC FOOTBALL were baseball, today's match between these two Armagh teams would have been postponed several times. It rained on and off during the entire contest, despite patches of blue in the sky.

But Gaelic football is not a sport for the delicate sort. It is rough and tumble, and the players and coaches were constantly cursing at each other (and the referee). Players were banged around, kicked, tripped, shoved, pushed, elbowed and slapped. A few minor skirmishes broke out.

The game is played on a large field - the same one where the camogie match was held a few days ago. Players can grab the ball and maneuver like a runningback, but they must touch the ball with their feet every three steps. They can also dribble the ball like a basketball. They can pass to each other by punching the ball volleyball-style.

Players score by kicking the ball through the field goal posts or into the net.

Tully Sirin (or Tulach Sarain in Irish) rolled over Lissummon (in green jerseys) in a rather lopsided match. The goalkeeper for Tully Sirin spent much of the game talking to friends who were sitting by his net. For a time, an elderly gentleman actually watched the game while leaning on Tully Sirin's goal post.