Scotland Head Coach Drew McNeil has named his squad for the Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling international double-header against Ireland.
The squad was announced at the Bught Park, Inverness on Monday 19 October 2011 and includes six new caps. Oban Camanachd keeper Gavin Stobbart, defenders Donald Irvine of Kyles Athletic and Daniel Cameron of Oban Camanachd, midfielder Robbie MacLeod of Kyles Athletic and forwards Kevin Bartlett of Caberfeidh and Kinlochshiel’s Keith MacRae all join the squad for the first time. All six players have previously represented Scotland at U21 level.
Newtonmore’s Scott Campbell, Fort William trio Paul MacKay, Duncan Rodger and Chris Bamber, Kingussie pair Ronald Ross and Paul Gow and Bute’s Iain MacDonald all drop out of last year’s squad whilst there is a recall for Kilmallie’s John Stewart who featured in 2009.
The squad is made up of 13 players from the North and 6 players from South shinty. A total of 14 of the players named currently ply their trade in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division whilst 5 play in Marine Harvest North Division 1.
Kyles Athletic have four players in the squad whilst Fort William and Glenurquhart have 3 players each. The squad also features brothers Finlay MacRae and Keith MacRae from Kinlochshiel.
The 19 man squad will be captained by Newtonmore full back Norman Campbell who is a veteran of the international series.
The Scotland Squad in full is;
Stuart Mackintosh (Glenurquhart)
Gavin Stobbart (Oban Camanachd)
Norman Campbell Newtonmore) – Captain
Donald Irvine (Kyles Athletic)
John Barr (Glenurquhart)
Daniel Cameron (Oban Camanachd)
Andrew Corrigan (Glenurquhart)
Neil MacDonald (Lochaber)
Gary Innes (Fort William)
Niall MacPhee (Fort William)
Robbie MacLeod (Kyles Athletic)
John MacDonald (Fort William)
Kevin Bartlett (Caberfeidh)
Finlay MacRae (Kinlochshiel)
Grant Irvine (Kyles Athletic)
John Stewart (Kilmallie)
Shaun Nicholson (Lochaber)
Roddy MacDonald (Kyles Athletic)
Keith MacRae (Kinlochshiel)
In the event of any injuries, the Scotland boss has listed four players who attended two of the squad sessions on a stand-by list.
Stand-by:
Somhairle MacDonald (Skye Camanachd)
Mark Sproule (Lochcarron)
Mark Bain (Glasgow Mid Argyll)
Eddie Tembo (Glenurquhart)
The Scots travel to Athy, Co. Kildare, Ireland for the first fixture on Saturday 22 October 2011 whilst the second leg takes place at the Bught Park, Inverness a week later on Saturday 29 October 2011.