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Two of the fastest-moving, hardest-hitting games in town are probably never going to find their way into the local sports pages. But if you call yourself a Philly sports fan (alternate term: masochist), you owe it to yourself to head to Cardinal Dougherty high school some Sunday afternoon this summer to catch Irish football and hurling.

Irish football is somewhat rugby-or-soccer-like, except that it’s not. Picture the Battle of the Ardennes played by scruffy-looking dudes wearing brightly colored jerseys and shorts.

And hurling? No, not that kind of hurling. (Although I did letter in that particular sport at Temple.)

Hurling is a game played with a wooden paddle and a hard little ball. Sometimes you hit the ball; sometimes you hit a noggin. (It makes the same noise.) Anyway, hurling is a cross between field hockey, lacrosse and assault with a deadly weapon.

Believe it or not, the Delaware Valley is up to its jock straps in Irish football and hurling teams. They spend most of the summer slugging it out on Dougherty’s playing field on North Second Street, a couple of blocks below Cheltenham Avenue.

I’d tell you the schedule, but it can be a bit on the loosey-goosey side. Suffice to say, they’re out there playing multiple games just about every Sunday afternoon. Just show up.

Here are photos of the most recent Sunday afternoon action:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishphiladelphia/sets/72157600306664572/

And believe it or not, even little kids are learning the sports. More pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishphiladelphia/sets/72157600184632150/

Cardinal Dougherty High School
6301 N. Second Street, Philadelphia, PA 19120