The final preparations have been put in place ahead of the second Shinty / Hurling between Ireland and Scotland which takes place at the Croke Park on Saturday 21 November 2015.
The Scotland squad fly out from both Inverness and Glasgow on Friday morning. The flights arrive in Dublin at lunchtime and the players will have lunch before heading for an afternoon tour of Croke Park. Next up is a 45 minute Shinty / Hurling session against a local hurling side under the floodlights on Friday evening which will help blow away any cobwebs.
Following breakfast on Saturday morning, there will be a light training session before lunch and then the players set-off for the televised encounter against Ireland at Croke Park. After the match, they will watch the International Rules game between Ireland and Australia which starts at 7pm followed and there is an evening reception thereafter. The squad travel back to Scotland on the Sunday.
The squad has also been made aware of a change in rules which prevents players from either side making any indentation in the pitch at set-pieces. Scotland Head Coach Ronald Ross explains, “When you make application to play at Croke Park, you have to have your request approved by a special pitch committee. The rules this year stipulate that players will not be allowed to make an indentation in the pitch when taking a free-hit or goal-hit. The keepers will be allowed to use a surface tee at hit-outs but outfield players will all take free-hits off the ground. They will not be allowed to make indentations on the grass to help get the ball in the air. If they are caught doing so, the referee will award the free-hit to the opposing team. This rule change will limit us at free-hits but it might take a bit of sting out of the game as Ireland will take longer to get the ball in play after it goes behind their goal. But, to be fair, they have just spent €2 million on the Croke Park pitch so I can understand why they have introduced this. They also want to protect the surface ahead of the International Rules game between Ireland and Australia which takes place after our game.”
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)