Scotland came out on top in a thrilling shinty / hurling clash at Nowlans Park, Kilkenny on Saturday 18 October 2008.
Kilmallie's John Stewart was the Scots goalscorer with Kenny Ross, Hector Whitelaw, and Eddie Tembo contributed the other Scottish points.
The Scots trailed early in the game but fought back to lead 0-8 to 0-7 at half time. The final score was Ireland 1-9 to Scotland 1-10.
Both sides found the conditions difficult in the early stages as the match was played in tricky weather conditions. However the clash was superb entertainment for a crowd in excess of 1,000 fans and a TV audience of many more back in Scotland.
Scotland held a 2 point lead after 12 minutes thanks from quick scores by Hector Whitelaw and John Stewart.
Ireland opened their account with a 20th-minute point from Down's Brendan McGourty. Then Kilkenny duo Eddie Brennan (2) and Derek Lyng scored to give Ireland a 2 point lead after 22 minutes. Brennan and Tommy Walsh, fresh from picking up All-Star awards the previous night, were in superb form as were the other Liam McCarthy tier players Cork's Séan Óg Ó hAilpín and Derek Lyng.
Further scores from Lyng and Murtagh gave Ireland a 0-6 to 0-4 lead on 27 minutes, but Scotland had a strong period of play just before the break as a Kenny Ross two-pointer from a sideline cut gave Scotland a 0-8 to 0-7 half-time lead.
Ireland kept in touch thanks to good work by Murtagh who top-scored with 1-3. However a 50th minute goal from John Stewart gave the Scots the confidence to go on and win the game.
Although Ireland continued to pile on pressure late in the match, they were unable to topple the Scots. This is Scotland's fourth win in a row in the shinty / hurling international and a debut win for new Scotland manager Fraser MacKenzie.
Scorers for Scotland: H Whitelaw (2f) 0-6; J Stewart 1-1; K Ross (1 sl) 0-2; E Tembo 0-1. Ireland: B Murtagh (1-0pen) 1-3; D Lyng 0-3; E Brennan 0-2; B McGourty 0-1.
IRELAND: G Clarke; D Shaw, E Coady; T Walsh, S Kavanagh, G Bermingham; D Clarke, S Óg Ó hAilpín, D Lyng; P Branniff, M Burke, E Brennan; B McGourty, B Murtagh. Subs: J Shaw for McGourty (47); J Glancy for Branniff (70); S Kelly for D Clarke (70).
SCOTLAND: S MacNeil; J Barr, S Campbell; A Mackenzie, I MacDonald, S Nicholson; N Robertson, K Ross, F MacRae; G Innes, N MacPhee, J Stewart; H Whitelaw, A Corrigan. Subs: R Graham for Nicholson (43); E Tembo for Stewart (61); R Graham for Whitelaw (70).
REFEREE: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)
