Henry Shefflin, holder of 10 All Ireland Senior Hurling winners medals
Category: Skills
JJ’s Hook 2014
JJ Delaney prevents an almost certain goal in an All Ireland Final..
1. Delaney immediately commits to chasing the attacking Tipperary forward Seamus Callinan at full speed
2. Patiently waits for the moment at which Callinan will strike – Delaney may have only one chance and Callinan might feint a strike before the actual shot or shorten the grip on the hurley to reduce his chance of being hooked.
3. Correctly anticipates the height at which Callinan strikes. Many forwards have taken to batting the ball in this situation to avoid being hooked although hurling purists may disapprove of this approach.
Hooking is a relatively simple skill – at close quarters it requires a certain amount of bravery, but when called upon to be used in high speed pursuit against one of the best forwards of the modern era there is a little more intelligence at play.
Richie Hogan goal 2011
One of the purest hurling goals ever scored in Croke Park, Richie Hogan demonstrates the importance of old school instinctive hurling skills