The early team news is starting to emerge ahead of the Shinty / Hurling clash between Ireland and Scotland at Croke Park on Saturday 21 November 2015.
Scotland boss Ronald Ross makes just one change to his squad. Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald is on a delayed honeymoon so the experienced Stuart MacKintosh from Glenurquhart, who was on the bench at the Bught Park 4 weeks earlier, comes back in between the sticks. Kilmallie forward Liam MacDonald has shaken off a shoulder injury sustained in training with his club side as they prepare for the Marine Harvest Premiership play-off clash with Kingussie at the Bught Park on Saturday 28 November 2015. Nobody would be surprised if Stuart MacKintosh was the only change to the starting line-up which did so well in Inverness.
Ireland co-managers Jeffrey Lynskey and Gregory O’Kane make four changes which undoubtedly strengthen their squad which from the one which lost 24-14 to the Scots last month. They have called up 2015 GAA / GPA Opel All-Star Hurler of the Year TJ Reid who beat team-mate Richie Hogan and Tipperary’s Séamus Callanan to be win the top individual accolade in the game. Reid’s inclusion will catch the eye and swell the crowd as the Kilkenny man has been in terrific form this season. There are also call-ups for Waterford All-Star Maurice Shanahan and Antrim’s Neil MacAulay who were both named in the squad for the first game but had to pull out. There is a place for Pat Kelly who becomes the third Kerry-man in the panel. Kelly was a member of Clare's 2013 Liam MacCarthy Cup-winning squad before moving to Kerry in January 2015. Tipperary’s Patrick Maher and Carlow’s Paul Coady were late call-ups for the Inverness game and both are not included in the squad for the Croke Park clash. Down’s Gareth Johnston and Niall Ó Muineachain from Kildare are also left out. However should Maurice Shanahan not make it, there will be a swift recall for Patrick Maher.
Scotland from:
Stuart MacKintosh – Glenurquhart
Callum Miller – Kyles Athletic
John Barr – Glenurquhart (captain)
Rory Kennedy – Newtonmore
Steven MacDonald – Newtonmore
Finlay MacRae - Kinlochshiel
Lee Bain - Kingussie
Paul MacArthur – Newtonmore
Shaun Nicolson – Lochaber
Daniel Cameron – Oban Camanachd
Zandz Ferguson – Lochaber
Conor Cormack – Beauly
Kevin Bartlett – Lovat
Grant Irvine – Kyles Athletic
Roddy MacDonald – Kyles Athletic
Glen MacKintosh – Newtonmore
Fraser Heath – Glenurquhart
Neale Reid - Glenurquhart
Liam MacDonald – Kilmallie
Ireland from:
Eoin Reilly – Laois
Mickey Burke – Meath
Bernard Deay – Kildare
Paul Divilly – Kildare
Damien Healy – Meath
Zane Keenan – Laois
Shane Maloney – Galway
Neal McAuley – Antrim
David McInerney – Clare
Derek McNicholas – Westmeath
Bryan Murphy – Kerry
Pat Kelly – Kerry
Shane Nolan – Kerry
TJ Reid – Kilkenny
Eoin Price – Westmeath
Maurice Shanahan – Waterford
James Toher – Meath
Matthew Whelan - Laois (captain)
Match Referee – Sean Cleere
Saturday 21 November 2015 – Croke Park, Dublin
Hurling / Shinty International
Ireland Senior Men v Scotland Senior Men – Throw in 4.35pm and the whole match will be broadcast LIVE on BBC Alba.
(Followed by 2015 Gaelic Football v Aussie Rules International)
Tickets for the game are priced at €25 for adults and €5 for juveniles and are available on GAA.ie/tickets and from selected SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide.
This is a stand-alone game, a change from last year’s two-legged points format. The game takes place prior to the EirGrid International Rules game between Ireland and Australia which starts at 7pm.
(Picture courtesy of Neil G Paterson)