Ireland retained the Marine Harvest Quaich with a 5-1 series win over Scotland after they defeated the Scots 15-14 in their second Shinty / Hurling international test at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 29 October 2011.
The Scotland side suffered late heartache in this fixture for the second year in a row as a Brendan Maher goal 5 minutes from time snatched the Quaich from their grasp.
Scotland Head Coach Drew McNeil welcomed Kyles Athletic’s Roddy MacDonald into his side after the newly crowned Marine Harvest National Player of the Year had missed the first test due to work commitments. However Fort William’s Niall MacPhee and Kyles Athletic’s Donald Irvine were unavailable and injury ruled out Kyles’ Grant Irvine. There was a recall for Bute’s Iain MacDonald whilst late call-up Somhairle MacDonald retained his place in the squad.
Ireland boss Joe Dooley was also forced to make three changes from his original squad. Injury ruled out Tipperary’s Eoin Kelly, who scored six points and was for many the man of the match in the first test. Also absent through injury were keeper Paddy Mullaney and Andy O’Brien. Rory Hanniffy from Offaly replaced Eoin Kelly whilst Carlow’s Craig Doyle comes into the squad in place of Andy O'Brien. Paul Dermody from Kildare, who played in goal for the Irish in both tests last year, replaced Paddy Mullaney between the posts
Ireland led 2-1 from the first game in which they triumphed (1-16) 19-14 (2-8). Under the series scoring system, the Irish picked up a couple of points for their win with Scotland earning a bonus point for scoring two or more goals.
Scotland captain Norman Campbell from Newtonmore won the toss in front of a Bught Park crowd of around 2,000 and a live television audience, and he opted to play with the wind.
The hosts made a spectacular start which left Ireland chasing shadows.
Kevin Bartlett gave the Scots a first minute lead with a superb two-pointer from the right touch-line which made it (0-2) 2-0 (0-0).
Ireland captain Michael Rice from Kilkenny set up a scoring opportunity for himself on 2 minutes but his effort went wide of target.
Scotland suffered a blow on 3 minutes when Fort William’s John MacDonald took a blow to the mouth and had to leave the field. MacDonald required stitches and he suffered damage to three teeth. Glenurquhart’s Andrew Corrigan came on in his place. Fort William’s Gary Innes put the result free wide.
Ireland keeper Paul Dermody did well to come off his line to foil Kilmallie forward John Stewart after 6 minutes.
Scotland were awarded a free on 7 minutes by referee David Mitchell when Oban Camanachd’s Daniel Cameron had a hurley broken over his head. Kinlochshiel’s Finlay MacRae took the free and he found the back of the net with a truly spectacular effort from inside his own half which increased Scotland’s lead to (1-2) 5-0 (0-0).
Caberfeidh’s Kevin Bartlett put another long two-pointer over the bar from the Scots left on 9 minutes to make it (1-4) 7-0 (0-0).
Ireland’s Michael Rice always looked dangerous but he snatched at a one-point attempt on 12 minutes and the ball went wide.
Paul Dermody then made a brilliant save under his bar from John Stewart as the keeper deflected the ball onto the bar before knocking it behind the goal. Paul Dermody then saved well, high above his head from Kevin Bartlett’s free and then he made a flying save from an aerial effort from Lochaber’s Shaun Nicolson as he dived low to his right to keep the ball out of the net.
The Scot were awarded a free for a kick on 18 minutes and Kevin Bartlett’s great effort came back off the post.
Willie Hyland from Laois missed a good opportunity when he put a free wide on 20 minutes.
Willie Hyland missed another attempt on 22 minutes after Glenurquhart’s John Barr was penalised.
The Scots thought they had scored again on 23 minutes when Kinlochshiel’s Keith MacRae burst down the left and crossed for Roddy MacDonald who put the ball in the net. However referee David Mitchell correctly spotted that Roddy MacDonald had actually kicked the ball into the net.
Paul Dermody was standing between Scotland and his side taking a real hammering at this stage and he did well again on 26 minutes when he cleared the danger from a Norman Campbell free from deep inside his own half.
Scotland keeper Stuart MacKintosh from Glenurquhart was called into action on 29 minutes when he saved from Michael Rice and cleared the danger.
Skye Camanachd’s Somhairle MacDonald came on in place of Keith MacRae on 31 minutes although the Kinlochshiel man returned to action moments later.
The Scots led (1-6) 9-0 (0-0) after 33 minutes thanks to another fine Kevin Bartlett free from the left touchline
A great touch from Somhairle MacDonald on 34 minutes set up a chance for John Stewart but his shot went wide.
The Scots had a 9 point lead but the Irish scored some crucial points before the break to get back into the game.
The visitors’ late first half surge began when Willie Hyland fired over to make it (1-6) 9-1 (0-1) after Finlay MacRae was penalised on 35 minutes
Ireland continued to press in the closing minutes of the half and they were rewarded with a goal from Offaly’s Joe Bergin on 39 minutes when he took down a high ball from Willie Hyland and he blasted the ball into the roof of the net cut the deficit to (1-6) 9-4 (1-1).
Carlow’s Craig Doyle, who was a first half substitute, secured another point from a loose ball seconds later to make it (1-6) 9-5 (1-2).
Paul Dermody attempted another stop from Kevin Bartlett in injury time but he was only able to deflect the ball onto the bar and over for a Scottish brace which made it (1-8) 11-5 (1-2).
There was still time for Stuart MacKintosh to save well from a shot from distance from Antrim’s Cormac Donnelly but goal judge Graeme Macmillan flagged for offside so the sides went into the break with Scotland leading (1-8) 11-5 (1-2).
Oban Camanachd keeper Gavin Stobbart came on in place of Stuart MacKintosh at the start of the second half.
Scotland started the second period well and Garry Innes played the ball forwarded to John Stewart but Kildare’s David Kennedy challenged well to snuff out the danger.
Paul Dermody saved from a Keith MacRae free on 44 minutes and the keeper then did well to keep out a Gary Innes shot with Kevin Bartlett missing from the rebound.
Ireland pulled back another point when Willie Hyland put a free over to make it (1-8) 11-6 (1-3).on 46 minutes
Lochaber’s Neil MacDonald was penalised on 48 minutes and Willie Hyland picked up a two-pointer from in front of goal to make it (1-8) 11-8 (1-5).
Scotland Head Coach changed his keepers again on 49 minutes with Stuart MacKintosh coming back on in place of Gavin Stobbart.
Kevin Bartlett converted another two-pointer from the right on 50 minutes to make it (1-10) 13-8 (1-5).
Willie Hyland collected a Norman Campbell clearance and he put the ball between the stick on 52 minutes to cut the deficit to (1-10) 13-9 (1-6).
A super solo from Michael Rice ended when he put the ball between the sticks seconds later to cut the Scots’ advantage to (1-10) 13-10 (1-7).
Gary Innes struck a great shot over the bar as Westmeath’s Brendan Maher tried to close him down on 54 minutes with what was only Scotland’s third point of the second half to make it (1-11) 14-10 (1-7).
Kilkenny All-Start Michael Rice added another Irish point with a huge hit from midfield on 61 minutes to make it (1-11) 14-11 (1-8).
A great run from Michael Rice set up Willie Hyland but his effort went wide on 65 minutes
Willie Hyland hit another free over the bar from the middle of the park on 68 minutes after Iain MacDonald had played the ball behind. Ireland now only trailed by two points, (1-11) 14-12 (1-9).
Finlay MacRae gave away a free a minute later but Willie Hyland launched the free past the post.
With just 5 minutes remaining, Scotland led 14-12 which gave them a 3-2 lead in the series and they had one hand on the Marine Harvest Quaich.
However Brendan Maher's late strike from inside his own half on 75 minutes deceived Stuart MacKintosh and the Scotland keeper seemed to palm the ball into his own net. The goal was surrounded in controversy though as Ireland’s Joe Bergin looking suspiciously off-side but this strike stood and it gave Ireland a (1-11) 14-15 (2-9) lead.
Even at this stage, a late Scotland goal would have swung the series in their favour but despite some late pressure, they were unable to breach the Irish rear-guard.
Gary Innes had a half chance on 79 minutes but the ball was deflected for a corner.
The Scots continued to press and Iain MacDonald over-hit a free with seconds remaining.
Ireland produced a late counter but Joe Bergin lost control of the ball and Neil MacDonald cleared only for referee David Mitchell to blow his final whistle
Scotland were well served by Kevin Bartlett, Finlay MacRae and Daniel Cameron.
Ireland’s top performers were Michael Rice, Willie Hyland and keeper Paul Dermody.
Ireland captain Michael Rice was presented with the Marine Harvest Quaich by Marine Harvest Managing Director Alan Sutherland.
Scorers
Ireland: Willie Hyland (0-6), Joe Bergin (1-0), Brendan Maher (1-0), Michael Rice (0-2), Craig Doyle 0-1
Scotland: Kevin Bartlett (0-10), Finlay MacRae (1-0), Gary Innes (0-1)
Scotland Squad from;
1. Stuart MacKintosh - Glenurquhart
2. Norman Campbell – Newtonmore (captain)
3. Mark Sproule – Lochcarron
4. John Barr - Glenurquhart
5. Robbie MacLeod – Kyles Athletic
6. Neil MacDonald - Lochaber
7. Finlay MacRae - Kinlochshiel
8. Iain MacDonald - Bute
9. Roddy MacDonald – Kyles Athletic
10. Shaun Nicolson - Lochaber
11. Somhairle MacDonald – Skye Camanachd
12. Gary Innes – Fort William
13. Keith MacRae - Kinlochshiel
14. John MacDonald – Fort William
15. John Stewart - Kilmallie
16. Andrew Corrigan - Glenurquhart
17. Daniel Cameron – Oban Camanachd
18. Kevin Bartlett – Caberfeidh
Head Coach – Drew McNeil
Assistant Coach – Kenny Ross – Lochcarron
Assistant Coach George Hay – Glasgow Mid Argyll
Goal Keeping Coach – Scott McNeil - Fort William
Trainer – Neil Bowman – Kingussie
Doctor – Dr Karen Massey - Newtonmore
Ireland panel from
1. Patrick Mullaney - Laois
2. Joe Bergin - Offaly
3. Kieran Divilly - Kildare
4. Cormac Donnelly - Antrim
5. John Doran - Kildare
6. Arron Graffin - Antrim
7. Willie Hyland - Laois
8. Rory Hanniffy - Offaly
9. David Kennedy - Kildare
10. Damian Maguire - Tyrone
11. Brendan Maher - Tipperary
12. Shane Morley - Mayo
13. Tom Murnane - Kerry
14. Brendan Murtagh - Westmeath
15. Eoin Nolan - Carlow
16. Eoin Price - Westmeath
17. Craig Doyle – Carlow
18. Michael Rice – Kilkenny (captain)
Manager – Joe Offaly
Assistant Manager – Kevin Ryan – Carlow
Assistant Manager – Jim McKernan - Down
Match Referee – David Mitchell