Next Sunday, the Fenway Hurling Classic, will take place in Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox, two semi-finals, each lasting 40 minutes, the winners of both semi-finals will progress to the final to be also played on Sunday.

The Aer Lingus sponsored “Classic” is a joint initiative by the GAA and GPA, an 11-aside hurling game with a few tweaks, its played on a smaller pitch, this allows the game to travel all over the world to be played in smaller stadiums. This year’s event is the third time in four years that the Super 11s will be played in Fenway Park.

The event will begin at 12.30 p.m. ET, thats 5.30pm Irish time, and will be shown live on TG4. Last year 30,000 people attended the event.

Semi-finals on Sunday

Clare v Cork

Limerick v Wexford

Here are some of the tweaks to the normal hurling rules we are all familiar with.

1- The dimensions of the pitch are, length 100 yds and width 53 1/3 yards. The field of play will be laid out in two halves with a Defensive Zone 20 yards into the field of play from each endline.

2- Each team shall have 11 Players on the field, and there no limit on the number of substitutions that can be made in a game.

3- There are two periods of twenty minutes each, but time shall be added on in each period for incidental or deliberate delays. There shall be a six minute break between each period in the first two games on the day and a twelve minute break in the final.

4- At the start of each period of play the referee will throw in the ball along the ground at the centre point of the field of play between ONE player from each team. All other players shall be at least 10 yards from the ball.

5- The ball may be passed with the hand no more than once consecutively by players on the same team.

6- The ball may not be intentionally kicked

7- No points, just goals. A goal scored from within the Defensive Zone is equivalent to three points.  A goal scored from outside the Defensive Zone is equivalent to five points

8- Once a team gains possession it shall have thirty seconds to attempt to score a goal.  If it fails to do so possession shall pass to the other team by the ball being placed on the ground by the player in possession.  All players on that player’s team must retreat 5 yards.  The ball shall be played by the opposing team as a free puck

9- In the last two minutes of each period of twenty minutes the period for attempting to score shall be reduced to twenty seconds.

10- No short puck outs– The ball cannot be played by a player on the team taking the puck out until it goes into the opposition team’s half or is played by a player on the opposition team.

11- If a foul is committed by a player in his own team’s Defensive Zone a penalty puck shall be awarded to the opposing team.

12- A penalty pucks, 20 yards from the goal, may be struck in either of two ways, ways, Lift the ball with the hurley and strike it, or strike the ball on the ground.

13- NO SIXTY FIVES– instead, as in hockey, a short corner will be awarded, 8 yards to the side of the goal.

14- In the event of a draw the game will be decided on a penalty shoot out– 5 penalties to each team and then sudden death.

Take a look back at the 2017 Fenway Hurling Classic