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 3 minutes from time snatched the Quaich from their grasp.

Scotland captain Norman Campbell from Newtonmore won the toss in front of a Bught Park crowd of around 2,000 and a television audience, and opted to play with the wind. The hosts made a spectacular start which left Ireland chasing shadows.

The Scots led (1-6) 9-0 (0-0) after 33 minutes but the Irish scored some crucial points before the break to get back into the game.

Caberfeidh’s Kevin Bartlett was the Scottish ace with four two-pointers in the first half whilst Kinlochshiel’s Finlay MacRae found the back of the net with a truly spectacular effort from inside his own half.

Ireland mounted a late first half surge and points from Laois' Willie Hyland and Carlow’s Craig Doyle, and a goal from Offaly’s Joe Bergin cut the deficit to (1-8) 11-5 (1-2) at half time.

The second half belonged to the Irish though and Willie Hyland started to find his range, adding 5 more points.

Scotland only managed 3 second half points – another Kevin Bartlett two-pointer and a single from Fort William’s Gary Innes.

Kilkenny All-Start Michael Rice added two more Irish points.   

Brendan Maher's late strike from inside his own half deceived Scotland keeper Stuart MacKintosh of Glenurquhart, with Ireland’s Joe Bergin looking suspiciously off-side, and this strike gave Ireland a (1-11) 14-15 (2-9) lead.

Even then 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.

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)

Picture courtesy of http://www.neilgpaterson.com/shinty.php 

(Full match report to follow)