I had a chance to visit Denver Regulators at Cook Park for the second week of their spring calendar.
Wednesday - 5:30 PM is practice
Sunday - 10:00 AM is scrimmage
Practice started with a jog around the field and then stretches. Since I was new, the President, Brian, walked me through the basics:
- Picking the ball up off the ground
- Hand Pass
- Pass with hurley
- Hit on ground
- How to hold hurley (always two hands, non-dominant hand on top)
- Hurling swing (fast, with wrists, forehand/backhand)
He also explained some of the rules
- Cannot pick ball up off ground with hand
- Can catch and hand toss
- Can carry balancing on hurley
- Can take four steps
- Can pass to self and take four more steps
- One Point over the crossbars
- Three points for goal in net
- Cannot push a player with hand
- Can shoulder a player for position
We then joined the warm-up in progress. After stretching, we paired up and passed back and forth getting progressively further away. Then we started drills which were variations on a give and go, learning to move across the field and stay with the ball. Finally, we had a short field exercises where we broke up into two teams with team 1 playing offense for about 10 series and then team 2 playing offense for about 10 series. We finished with a puck out challenge.
The group of about 15 was really friendly. I remember Brian (President), Ian (new player), Maura, and of course Kim.
I did not wear my cleats or Mechanix gloves. I used one of the clubs 32 inch hurleys and helmet. They had a couple of different balls (sliotar). Kim showed me some open palm gloves that some of the players wear. The only piece of personal gear I would want to buy is a helmet ($80), but hurley sticks ($25) and grip tape ($5) is pretty cheap and worth ordering all at once. Get a couple of hurleys.
Sliotar - Size 5 for adults/minor; Size 4 for women/Jr, $13 for game ball, $9 for wall ball
https://www.oneills.com/us_en/
https://www.americanhurling.com/products/mycro-hurling-glove?srsltid=AfmBOornG3mOsGNI7huE95yWPnCskm08RhDbmScElcU3nhhAS74iyiKG
https://www.twincitieshurling.com/resources
I watched some videos afterwards and it is the national obsession in Ireland. There are (15) players plus a goalkeeper. Five lines of three players. Fullback, Halfbacks, Midfielders, Half Forward, Full Forward. The field is the same as Gaelic football and quite large. Not sure if I am better suited for defensive or offensive positions. I do not have the endurance to play midfield. Game is played in two 30 minute halfs.
After practice several players were going to The Pioneer Bar (2401 S University Blvd) for drinks.
UPDATE: 4/19/2026 - Joined them for scrimmage and had a lot of fun. Played fullback. Not much of a defender, but I figured less running than other positions. They are doing a team equipment order at the end of the month and I will likely grab a helmet, couple hurleys, sliotars and gloves.
UPDATE: 4/23/2026 - Practice was fun last night and I joined them for dinner at The Pioneer Inn. Perusing the website they have typically ordered sleeved, sleeveless jerseys, shorts with different inseam lengths, quarter zip, hoodies and full zip jackets. I got connected with the WhatsApp and Instagram.
O'Neills Hurling Ball (Size 5) - 2x$13 - $26 (1 White and 1 Yellow)
O'Neills Wall Ball (Size 5) - 2x$9 - $18 (1 All Weather White and 1 Wall Ball Yellow)
Murphy's Wexford Ash (33 inch) - $44
Super 4 Hurling Grip Tape - $5 (Red/White)
--
$178 free shipping BUT had to pay a $40.90 tariff
Torpey Bambu Strike (33 inch, medium) - 70 eur + 19 eur shipping = $105
UPDATE: 4/28/2026
I ended up purchasing the helmet, ash hurley and some sliotars from O'Neills ($177). I will order a Torpey with the group order and would ideally add a new one every season if I stick with it. I am not sure what uniform options will present themselves, but I will get a jersey, shorts and a jacket or hoodie.
Just got the email telling me that DHL would be sending me a tariff bill.
UPDATE: 4/29/2026
Group Order -
***Torpey - Speed - 33" - Medium Weight (cost $100.40)***
Mycro Helmet - Plain - Large - Maroon -
or
Mycro Helmet - Pinstripe - Large - Maroon, black, black
or
***Mycro Helmet - Splash Helmet 1 Colour - Large - Maroon, black, black***Selected this one (cost TBD)
Maroon is a nod to Sean Treacys Hurling Club, Lurgan Founded 1973.
Plain - Maroon
Pinstripe - Maroon, black, black
Splash Helmet - 1 Color - Maroon, black, black
Wrapping Grip
Linseed Oil
https://youtube.com/shorts/-ZtLOSnzMcs?si=sWxuoz6ZoZsvthWp
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