Camogie (Ka-mo-gee) is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men.
Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and worldwide, largely among Irish communities.
It is organised by the Dublin-based Camogie Association or An Cumann Camógaíochta.Matches are contested by two teams of 15 a side, using a field 130m to 145m long and 80m to 90m wide. H-shape goals are used, a goal (scored when the ball goes between the posts and under the bar) is equal to three points and a point (scored when the ball goes over the bar) is equal to one point.
The annual All Ireland Camogie Championship has a record attendance of 33,154, while average attendances in recent years are in the region of 15,000 to 18,000. The final is televised live, with a TV audience of over 300,000 being claimed.
The rules are almost identical to hurling, with a few exceptions. Goalkeepers wear the same colours as outfield players. This is because no special rules apply to the goalkeeper and so there is no need for officials to differentiate between goalkeeper and outfielders. A camogie player can hand-pass a score (forbidden in hurling since 1980).
Camogie games last 60 minutes, two 30-minute halves (senior inter-county hurling games last 70, which is two 35-minute halves). Ties are resolved by multiple 2×10-minute sudden death extra time periods; in these, the first team to score wins. Dropping the camogie stick to handpass the ball is permitted. A smaller sliotar (ball) is used in camogie – commonly known as a size 4 sliotar – whereas hurlers play with a size 5 sliotar. If a defending player hits the sliotar wide, a 45-metre puck is awarded to the opposition (in hurling, it is a 65-metre puck). After a score, the goalkeeper pucks out from the 13-metre line. (in hurling, he must puck from the end line). The metal band on the camogie stick must be covered with tape. (not necessary in hurling) Side-to-side charges are forbidden. (permitted in hurling). Two points are awarded for a score direct from a sideline cut (since March 2012). Camogie players must wear skirts or skorts rather than shorts.
