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2018 Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling / Camogie Internationals – 2 Days To Go! | |
18 October 2018 Scotland Head Coach Garry Reid is happy with his squad ahead of the Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling / Camogie internationals against Irish opposition at the Bught Park on Saturday 20 October 2018. Reid said: “It’s all about making choices and we have selected a really good squad. People say that there aren’t so many good players out there these days but that’s not been my experience. You also worry that the commitment from the players might not be there and that they might not want to be involved but that’s certainly not what I’ve seen. The players are right up for it and they’ve given me their total respect.” The 20-player squad includes one goalkeeper – Lovat’s irrepressible Stuart MacDonald - and six outfield substitutes. “The physicality of this game means you need the option of having as many as six outfield substitutes and I intend using them all at some point in the match,” added Reid. There were six changes from last year’s 18-15 winning side. John Barr, Keith MacRae, Craig Mainland, Daniel Cameron, Ryan Borthwick and Andrew King are the players left out for various reasons – with Barr, MacRae and Mainland the only starters last time around. However, in a late switch this year, Kinlochshiel’s John MacRae was forced to withdraw after suffering an open fracture on one of his fingers in the weekend win over Caberfeidh so Lovat’s Craig Mainland was called up in his place. “The spine of the squad is from Newtonmore and that should not be any surprise given they have just won the treble,” explains the Scotland boss. Kinlochshiel and Lovat are also well represented and they and ‘More combine to account for thirteen of the twenty players selected. There are places for Oban Camanachd duo Lorne Dickie, who featured in 2016, and Andrew MacCuish whilst Newtonmore skipper Andy MacKintosh returns after missing out in 2017 through injury. Lochaber’s Shaun Nicolson has plenty experience of these encounters and he is recalled following his absence last year. Evan Menzies’ inclusion is no surprise. He is a big match player, underlined by his two goals and man of the match performance in Newtonmore’s Camanachd Cup Final success last month. Fort William’s Arran MacPhee, the only player picked from out-with the Premiership, is perhaps the manager’s wildcard having had limited game time since his return from a serious knee injury. “Arran has shown his worth and he looked really good in training and he gives us a different forward option. He scored twice for the U21s last year and I thought Fort William missed him when he was injured this season.”
Event Details The Scotland and Ireland seniors contest the Marine Harvest Quaich at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 20 October 2018. Throw in is at 2pm and John Keane is the match referee. There will be no live television coverage this year but the whole match will be shown in full on BBC ALBA from 4pm that afternoon. Earlier in the afternoon, Scotland Ladies face Dublin Ladies in the third and deciding match of their Shinty / Camogie series. Throw in is at noon and Martin MacLean is the match referee. Entry is £15 adults with £10 concessions and under 12s accompanied by a paying adult go free. Earlybird tickets can be purchased at www.shinty.com
(The photograph comes courtesy of www.neilgpaterson.com) |