Irish Come Out On Top In Youths Shinty / Hurling Challenge | |
24 April 2014 Naomh Mearnóg U17 from Portmarnock, North County Dublin, came out on top in a Shinty / Hurling clash with a Badenoch U17 select at sunny Dell, on Sunday 20 April 2014. The 2.30pm throw-in was played under the international cross-code rules used each year in the international meetings between Scotland and Ireland. Eighteen players and four coaches travelled from Dublin on Friday 18 April 2014 and enjoyed a full weekend of activities and hospitality with meals at the Balavil Hotel in Newtonmore and Silverfjord Hotel in Kingussie. The visitors took part in skiing, canoeing at Loch Insh, Kincraig and they made a visit to the Highland Folk Museum. The highlight was attendance at the RBS MacTavish Cup tie between Newtonmore and Beauly at the Eilan. Referee Ronald Ross threw the ball in to get the match under way in front of a good sized crowd who enjoying the typical Badenoch April weather. Badenoch captain Savio Genini was quick to strike for the home side firing over a two pointer from the side line in the second minute. The hurlers responded quickly with a couple of strikes of their own over the bar and the entertaining match ebbed and flowed throughout the first half and the interval score was Badenoch U17 (0-6) 6-14 (3-5) Naomh Mearnóg U17. Although Badenoch had some good possession in the second half, and created good chances, some fine goal keeping from Cian O’Daly prevented them from scoring any goals and they could only add another couple of points to their tally. Naomh Mearnog however kept the scoreboard ticking over in their favour by adding points over the bar at every opportunity and they scored another goal before the end. Their players showed great skill when ‘soloing’ with the ball (running with the ball balanced on their much wider sticks) and shinty players find this hard to defend against. While scoring points over the bar is a big part of the Irish game it is of course alien to the Scots and it is a ‘mind set’ that would take a few matches to get used to. The final result was Badenoch U17 (0-8) 8-30 (6-12) Naomh Mearnóg U17. There then followed an informal short sided game where the players swapped sticks and tested their skills at the other code which was entertaining and some adapted remarkably well. Both teams and coaches enjoyed a meal in the Silverfjord Hotel after the match and gifts were exchanged which included a commemorative plate and Namogh Mearnóg jersey being presented by the hurlers to Badenoch and a plaque and Kingussie and Newtonmore shirts heading back to Portmarnock. The Badenoch team would like to thank Highland Council’s Badenoch and Strathspey Ward for their assistance in funding hospitality for the weekend and also the many people who turned out to watch and gave the players from both teams such great support at the game. Click on the following link to see photographs from the match www.neilgpaterson.com |