Two late points gave Ireland a narrow 16-14 win over Scotland in their Shinty / Hurling clash at Croke Park on Saturday 21 November 2015.
Scotland went into the game on the back of a 24-14 win at the Bught Park just four weeks earlier. However for the first time, the two encounters were to be stand-alone fixtures rather than culminating in any aggregate scoring outcome.
Ireland co-managers Jeffrey Lynskey and Gregory O’Kane made three changes which undoubtedly strengthen their squad. Most notably, they 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 win the top individual accolade in the game. Reid’s inclusion caught the eye and swelled the crowd as the Kilkenny man has been in terrific form this season. Antrim’s Neil MacAulay, who was named in the squad for the first game but had to pull out, returned for this one and he was pushed straight into the starting line-up. There was also to be a call-up for Waterford All-Star Maurice Shanahan but he didn’t make it so Patrick Maher, who was a late addition to the squad in Inverness, retained his place. Pat Kelly became 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. Carlow’s Paul Coady was a late call-up for the first game but he was not included in the squad for the Croke Park clash. Down’s Gareth Johnston and Galway’s Shane Maloney were also left out with Maloney taking part in Galway’s Fenway Classic in Boston against Dublin the following day. Ireland U21 keeper Paddy McKenna was added to the 18 man squad which travelled to Scotland and he started on the substitutes’ bench as cover.
Scotland boss Ronald Ross made just one change to his squad. Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald was on a delayed honeymoon so the experienced Stuart MacKintosh from Glenurquhart, who was part of the squad at the Bught Park, came back in between the sticks. Kilmallie forward Liam MacDonald had 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 so he started in attack in place of Lochaber’s Shane Nicolson. Beauly’s Connor Cormack, who was an unused substitute in the first game, took over from Grant Irvine in midfield.
Both squads were made aware of a rule change which prevented players from either side making any indentation in the pitch when taking free-hits or goal-hits. The keepers were allowed to use a surface tee at hit-outs but outfield players were to take free-hits off the ground. Any instance contrary to this rule would see the referee award the free-hit to the opposing team. This helped protect the surface ahead of the International Rules game between Ireland and Australia which took place after the Shinty / Hurling contest.
The Croke Park surface was in immaculate condition with a couple of million euros spent on it recently.
With a front five of Zane Keenan, Patrick Maher, Eoin Price; TJ Reid and Shane Nolan, there were genuine pre-match fears that the Irish would blow the Scots away and Rory Kennedy was given a marking job on TJ Reid.
Ireland drew first blood. There was just over a minute on the clock when Zane Keenan picked up an attempted clearance from Finlay MacRae and he flicked the ball in the air before volleying it between the posts to give his side the opening score. Ironically, the Irish never managed such a point from open play in the first game but they were now off the mark.
Scotland responded from the restart and Connor Cormack sent a ball into the goal area from wide on the left but keeper Eoin Reilly took a touch before confidently clearing the danger.
A surging Patrick Maher run at the heart of the Scottish defence was halted by a combination of Lee Bain and Steven MacDonald as the contest started at a good pace.
Glen MacKintosh and Fraser Heath combined to win a corner on 5 minutes and Steven MacDonald sent the resultant 65 yard attempt between the posts to make it Ireland (0-1) 1-2 (0-2) Scotland.
There was to be more joy for the Scots a couple of minutes later. Steven MacDonald was fouled by Patrick Maher as he tried to play the ball up-field. MacDonald picked himself up to take the free and he launched the ball into the goal area. Keeper Eoin Reilly took a couple of touches as he tried to get the ball away without the use of his hand and Fraser Heath took full advantage, racing in to bundle the keeper and more importantly the ball down into the net to make it Ireland (0-1) 1-5 (1-2) Scotland.
Patrick Maher sent a long ball into the Scotland box on 8 minutes which gave Stuart MacKintosh his first piece of work of the game and the keeper stopped the ball with his feet before putting it out of play. Zane Keenan tried to put the resultant hit-in between the posts but he was unable to get under the ball and Callum Miller cleared the danger.
Callum Miller was penalised for a shove on Shane Nolan on 9 minutes. This time Zane Keenan got height on the ball but sent it wide of the post.
There was a buzz on anticipation as TJ Reid collected the ball wide on the left and although he made space, he also sent an effort wide of target.
Ireland did pull a point back on 10 minutes when Zane Keenan ran onto a ball down the Irish right before lifting the ball into the air and sending it over the bar from a wide position to make it Ireland (0-2) 2-5 (1-2) Scotland.
Another Irish point followed a minute later as Eoin Price raced onto a long ball down the Irish left. Price cut back to make a better angle for himself before sending the ball over the bar to make it Ireland (0-3) 3-5 (1-2) Scotland.
Scotland pulled a couple of points back in 13 minutes when Fraser Heath was bundled over by James Toher as he ran onto a Connor Cormack ball down the left wing. Kevin Bartlett sent the free directly between the posts to make it Ireland (0-3) 3-7 (1-4) Scotland.
A Callum Miller challenge on Shane Nolan was penalised by referee Sean Cleere. Rather than put the ball over the bar, Zane Keenan opted to go for goal but his powerful effort flew just past Stuart MacKintosh’s right post.
Zane Keenan again broke down the Irish right but this time his shot was comfortably saved and cleared by Stuart MacKintosh.
Eoin Reilly came off his line to get to a Fraser Heath ball and his clearance skewed to defender Michael Burke who found Neil McAulay and he dropped the ball over the bar from the middle of the park and Ireland trailed 7-4 with 16 minutes played.
There was danger for the Scots when Patrick Maher almost got away from Finlay MacRae but just couldn’t take the ball with him and the chance was gone.
Ireland pressed again and when Callum Miller fouled Shane Nolan, Zane Keenan sent the dead-ball over the bar and the two points made it Ireland (0-6) 6-7 (1-4) Scotland with 17 minutes played.
Ireland were now enjoying their best spell in the match and Callum Miller was replaced by Zandz Ferguson for the visitors with 18 minutes played.
Ireland’s Damien Healy was withdrawn after suffering a knock in a challenge from Liam MacDonald and Paul Divilly came on with almost 20 minutes played.
At the restart, John Barr was penalised for pulling back substitute Divilly and Zane Keenan lifted the ball and sent it over the bar to level the score at Ireland (0-7) 7-7 (1-4) Scotland and Ireland had scored the last five points.
A couple of minutes later, Fraser Heath won possession on the Scotland right and he sent a cross into the danger-area where Liam MacDonald hit a shot on his back-hand but Eoin Kelly stretched low to make a good save.
A combination of Stuart MacKintosh and Finlay MacRae then denied Patrick Maher the chance to add to the Irish tally.
Scotland made another change as Liam MacDonald was came on for Grant Irvine on 25 minutes.
And substitute Irvine had a chance a couple of minutes later. Steven MacDonald sent the ball to Kevin Bartlett and he played the ball down the right to Glen MacKintosh who picked out Grant Irvine’s run. The Kyles man took a touch but his shot across the keeper went just wide of Reilly’s right post
Ireland scored their first goal of the game on 28 minutes as Patrick Maher got the break of the ball following a high lob from substitute Pat Kelly and he ran across goal before stabbing the ball over MacKintosh to make it Ireland (1-7) 10-7 (1-4) Scotland and the hosts led for the first time since the second minute.
Lee Bain need treatment after colliding with Pat Kelly and referee Sean Cleere awarded the Scots a free. Steven MacDonald again sent the ball long and James Toher blocked Fraser Heath’s shot. Scotland need points and they got them following the resultant 65 from Steven MacDonald. As the ball dropped into the box, it was deflected into the path of Kevin Bartlett and he he crashed a shot on the half volley on his right side into the net. The goal levelled the game again at Ireland (1-7) 10-10 (2-4) Scotland with 31 minutes played.
The Scotland goal survived a scare on 33 minutes when a Zane Keenan side-line ball from midfield dropped into the goal area, over defender, keeper and forwards, and ran across the goal line with Zandz Ferguson preventing Bernard Deay from knocking the ball into the net at the back post with a last ditch challenge.
Kevin Bartlett added two more Scottish points to put his side back in front on 35 minutes. Glen MacKintosh won the ball as Daniel Cameron played it forward on the right on and he slipped it short to Roddy MacDonald who was shoved in the back by Irish captain Mathew Whelan and Bartlett converted the free. It was now Ireland (1-7) 10-12 (2-6) Scotland with 5 minutes until the break.
However it was Ireland who would take an interval lead and it was another high ball into the box that did the damage. Zane Keenan picked up a Lee Bain clearance on the Irish left and his high ball from the right dropped under the crossbar for Ireland’s second goal with Bernard Deay looking offside. It was now Ireland (2-7) 13-12 (2-6) Scotland with 37 minutes played.
There were chances at both ends as the first half drew to a close. Bernard Deay sent a ball wide from a tight angle on the left.
Then a great run from Kevin Bartlett ended when he played-in Grant Irvine but Michael Burke got the ball away.
Roddy MacDonald tugged a shot into the side-netting after Kevin Bartlett and Fraser Heath combined on the left in first half injury time.
With two minutes of first half injury time played, referee Sean Cleere blew the half-time whistle and Ireland took their one point advantage into the break.
Shane Nolan put the ball well wide with the first chance of the second half.
A stray ball from John Barr on 44 minutes was picked up by Zane Keenan who found Eoin Price but he put the ball wide as the Irish spurned another chance.
Shane Nolan put another attempt wide of the post from distance just seconds later.
Kevin Bartlett put a side-line ball wide a couple of minutes later as Irish keeper Eoin Reilly was spotted with a caman rather than a hurley.
Steven MacDonald put a two-point attempt the wrong side of the post just after.
Ireland were given a soft free inside their own half on 49 minutes. Keeper Reilly took it and sent a huge hit forward and when the ball broke to Derek McNicholas, he showed good control before striking the ball between the posts for the first score of the second half which made it Ireland (2-8) 14-12 (2-6).
A side-line Steven MacDonald ball was heading for the top right corner of the net but Reilly stretched to bat the ball away.
Forward Neale Reid was on for Scotland and defender Damien Healy was back after recovering from a knock for Ireland. When Daniel Cameron was fouled by Pat Kelly, Kevin Bartlett converted a two-point attempt to restore parity. This made it Ireland (2-8) 14-14 (2-8) Scotland but with 52 minutes played, it would be Scotland’s last score of the game.
Ireland did well to deal with another side-line ball from Steven MacDonald on 55 minutes as the Scots continued to press.
A two-point attempt from Kevin Bartlett went just past the post a minute later.
Paul MacArthur came on in midfield for Scotland.
A side-line ball from the left from Kevin Bartlett went just wide of target on the hour and Scotland would come to regret the missed chances.
A superb stretch from John Barr foiled David McInerney a minute later. TJ Reid missed the resultant 65 yard attempt as he struggled to get into the Shinty / Hurling environment.
A Roddy MacDonald strike from distance was saved by Eoin Reilly and as play switched to the other end, Paul Divilly put the ball wide with just over 15 minutes remaining. Justice was done as Divilly clearly shoved Lee Bain on the back just before he gathered the ball.
Zane Keenan swivelled away from Finlay MacRae and broke down the Ireland left and his shot flashed across goal with a couple of frustrated team-mates looking for a pass.
Shaun Nicolson came on for Scotland and the next points were going to be crucial.
The more the game went on, the more the refereeing decisions seemed to go against the Scots.
With 9 minutes remaining, Ireland’s David McInerney sent a dropping ball wide of target.
Kevin Bartlett seemed to hurt his shoulder in a collision with Neale Reid on 72 minutes as they jostled with Michael Burke for possession.
Shaun Nicolson dispossessed Mathew Whelan on 74 minutes, wide on the Scotland left. Keeper Reilly came off his line to try and clear Nicolson’s cross but Fraser Heath got a touch to the ball and the Scots claimed for a corner as James Toher tried to usher the ball out of play.
We were approaching a remarkable 25 minutes since the last point was notched and it was Ireland who would eventually get their noses in front. Eoin Price put a single point attempt wide and Ireland claimed for a slight deflection off Connor Cormack’s blocking challenge. The Hawkeye seemed to come into play as the referee initially signalled for a corner before then changing his mind to award an Irish free. Zane Keenan flicked the ball in the air before dropping it on the goal. The Scottish defence got the ball away but Eoin Price got onto the loose ball and fed Pat Kelly who chipped into the goal area. Scotland couldn’t clear their lines and Shane Nolan made just enough space and he put the ball over the bar to make it Ireland (2-9) 15-14 (2-8) Scotland.
The clock was now against Scotland and Stuart MacKintosh dealt with a long Eoin Price ball into the box.
Scotland went all out to get back on level terms but they were stung when Eoin Price collected a pass from Patrick Maher on the left and he sent the ball between the posts to make it Ireland (2-10) 16-14 (2-8) Scotland with only a minute remaining.
Zane Keenan sent a shot well wide as Ireland went for the kill.
Scotland finished the game on the attack but after only a minute’s stoppage time, referee Sean Cleere blew the final whistle.
Rory Kennedy was probably Scotland’s top performer over the two games and he got TJ Reid’s shirt as a souvenir. Steven MacDonald and Fraser Heath can also be pleased with their contributions.
Zane Keenan was best for Ireland, making their biggest points contribution.
Had the two-game contest been played in the same format as the previous series, Scotland would have led 3-1 following the first match with each side getting a bonus point for scoring two goals or more, However Ireland would have won the Croke Park encounter by the same margin with the bonus goals again kicking in. That would have made it 4-4 so the outcome would have been decided on the aggregate score which would have resulted in a 38-30 Scotland win.
Scotland competed well in both games this year and the first half performance in Inverness was particularly impressive.
The 2015 home and away fixtures showed that the Scots have made progress and there is plenty to work with ahead of next year’s encounter which is likely to be a one-off clash with the venue yet to be decided.
Ireland; Eoin Reilly; Brian Murphy, James Toher; Michel Burke, Michael Whelan (captain), Damien Healy; Derek McNicholas, David McInerney, Neil McAuley; Zane Keenan, Patrick Maher, Eoin Price; TJ Reid, Shane Nolan; subs Pat Kelly, Paul Divilly, Brian Deay Niall Ó Muineachain, Paddy McKenna
Scorers;
Zane Keenan 8 (1-1-3)
Patrick Maher 3 (1-0-0)
Eoin Price 2 (0-0-2)
Neil McAuley 1 (0-0-1)
Derek McNicholas 1 (0-0-1)
Shane Nolan 1 (0-0-1).
Scotland; Stuart MacKintosh; Finlay MacRae, Callum Millar; Steven MacDonald, Rory Kennedy, Lee Bain; Daniel Cameron, John Barr (captain), Connor Cormack; Kevin Bartlett, Roddy MacDonald, Liam MacDonald; Glen MacKintosh, Fraser Heath; subs Grant Irvine, Zandz Ferguson, Neale Reid, Shaun Nicolson, Paul MacArthur
Scorers;
Kevin Bartlett 9 (1-3-0)
Fraser Heath 3 (1-0-0)
Steven McDonald 2 (0-1-0)
Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).
(Picture courtesy of Neil G Paterson)