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Gaelic football, which is usually called football or Gaelic, is a contact sport which originated in Ireland. It is a type of football with a goal similar to that used in rugby but having a net attached below the crossbar. The object is to kick or punch the round ball into the net (three points) or over the crossbar (one point).

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It is usually played outdoors on a rectangular grass pitch. The pitch stretches around 130-145 meters long and 80-90 meters wide. Matches for adult football and under-21 matches last for around 60 minutes, that is 30 minutes each half. Senior intercounty games last for 70 minutes, 35 minutes each half.

Gaelic football is played by two teams with 15 members each team. There’s the goalkeeper, two corner backs, a full back, two wing backs, a center back, two mid fielders, two wing forwards, a centre forward, two corner forwards, and a full forward.

There are two types of scoring: points and goals. A point is for kicking and hand-passing the ball over the crossbar. A goal is for kicking the ball under the crossbar to the net.

Gaelic football is governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association.

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Similar Sports

• International Rules Football — invented so that Aussie Rules Football players can play games against Irish Gaelic football players.
• Rugby Union — played on a grass field by two opposing teams with two H-shaped goalposts at opposite ends.
• Caid (extinct)

Related Pages

• About football (general)
• Football Decoder — what is called football around the world?
• Gaelic games, the traditional sports played in Ireland organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), include Gaelic Football, Hurling, Rounders and Gaelic Handball.
• Complete list of sports
• The Encyclopedia of Sports
• Sport in Ireland