This is why some people call it the greatest game on earth.
Whatever about it being the fastest field sport on the planet, the level of skill and composure and practice required to execute some of the stick work you see at the highest level is breathtaking at times.
Tipperary advanced to the National League semi-final with a comfortable victory over Dublin in the end at Croke Park but they did it with 14 men.
It was a bit of a mixed bag for Ronan Maher who received his marching orders before half time but still managed to produce one of the moments of the game before that.
Cárta dearg tuillte ag Ronan Maher? A deserved red card for Ronan Maher?
Scór leathama i gCluiche Ceathrú Ceannais #AllianzLeagues @DubGAAOfficial 0-14 @TipperaryGAA 1-15#GAABEO pic.twitter.com/brBCN4UjOG— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 25, 2018
The midfielder drew applause from both Tipp and Dublin supporters earlier in the 22nd minute when he took a sliotar from the skies with his hurl before catching it again with his hurl to nick it away from an oncoming sky blue jersey.
Rather than let the ball fall into the uncertainties of being contested by two men and two hands, Maher arrived with perfect timing and perfect precision to intercept the puckout and bring it down, before cooly clipping it into his hands with his second touch.
It will soon be one of the definitions under the word silky in the dictionary.
Níl aon spórt ar nós iomáint! #AllianzLeagues#GAABEO @TipperaryGAA v @DubGAAOfficial pic.twitter.com/jWgyER7GjP
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 25, 2018
Tipperary ran out 13-point winners, clinching the last eight tie with a 2-26 to 0-19 win and setting up a mouthwatering Munster derby with Limerick in the semi-final.
NHL semi-final
- Wexford v Kilkenny (Wexford Park)
- Tipperary v Limerick (Thurles)
But whilst Maher is showing off what he can do with the hurl, Jason Forde does it the traditional way, whilst he’s almost horizontal to the ground.
Jason Forde ag breith ar an sliotar! Some catch by Jason Forde! #AllianzLeagues@TipperaryGAA v @DubGAAOfficial
Bí linn ar #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/q0yAQRSZYz— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 25, 2018
It’s probably times like these they reserve the phrase ‘lovely hurling’ for.
