Scotland lifted the Marine Harvest Quaich with a 24-14 win over Ireland in their Shinty / Hurling international at the Bught Park on Saturday 24 October 2015.
The Scots delivered a devastating first half performance to sweep aside a subdued Irish squad in front of a noisy 1,500 home support.
Scotland boss Ronald Ross gave Glenurquhart’s Fraser Heath a debut at full forward even although he is still eligible for the U21s. He was joined in attack by 32-goal Glen MacKintosh from Newtonmore. Kyles Athletic’s Roddy MacDonald, Lochaber’s Shaun Nicolson and Lovat’s dead-ball expert Kevin Bartlett, whose recent scoring record in the international fixtures will no doubt have had him ear-marked by the Irish as the Scotland danger-man. The five player forward line came from shinty’s top five league clubs and they certainly knew where the goals were - scoring 89 goals between them already this season. Former Scotland U21 captain Rory Kennedy, another debutant, started in defence and he was given a key marking role.
Ireland co-managers Jeffrey Lynskey and Gregory O'Kane were forced to make a couple of late changes to their squad with Waterford’s Maurice Shanahan and Antrim’s Neal McAuley were initially replaced by Tipperary’s All-Star Patrick “Bonner” Maher and Conor Woods from Down. However Woods was unable to make it so Carlow’s Paul Coady took his place and started on the bench. As far as replacements go, Patrick Maher is top drawer. He has previous experience of this fixture and his powerful running was a real asset. Clare’s all-Ireland winner David McInerney was another top hurler whilst Westmeath’s Eoin Price was amongst the points last season. Galway’s Shane Moloney was an interesting choice. He was the super-sub who bagged the stoppage-time winning point against Tipperary which booked Galway’s place in the 2015 All-Ireland final. The 22-year-old perhaps surprisingly started on the bench. Michael Whelan from Laois captained the side.
The players were introduced to Camanachd Association President Jim Barr, Paudie O’Neil from the GAA, Highland Council Leader Margaret Davidson as well as Steve Bracken from sponsors Marine Harvest.
Robert Robertson from Skipinnish led the crowd with a stirring rendition of Flower of Scotland ahead of this 2.05pm throw-in was broadcast live on BBC2 Scotland.
Ireland were first to threaten and a Paul Divilly ball into danger area in the opening seconds called Scotland keeper Stuart MacDonald into action and he palmed the ball down before clearing his lines.
Roddy MacDonald led Scotland’s first attack as he broke down the right wing and keeper Eoin Reilly got to his cross, and found himself on wrong the end of a heavy Glen MacKintosh challenge into the bargain, with Shaun Nicolson just unable to steer the dropping ball goalwards.
Ireland were forced to make a change after just 5 minutes with Bernard Deay limping off and Shane Moloney making an early appearance.
Play restarted with Kevin Bartlett taking over from where he left off last year by driving a dead-ball from the right between the posts to score the first two points of the day.
Ireland defender Damien Healy had a shove at Bartlett after the strike but his attentions were returned with interest by the Lovat SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup winner. Lineman Martin MacLean spotted the incident and referee Evan MacRae had a word with both players before keeper Eoin Reilly restarted play by hitting the ball out off the ground, rather than flicking the ball in the air and hitting it on the drop, in what was a change to the composite rules.
A late Patrick Maher swing caught Grant Irvine as the Kyles play-maker surged forward from midfield. The dead-ball attempt from Irvine’s club-mate Callum Miller went wide of keeper Reilly’s right post with 10 minutes played.
Ireland fought back and a two-pointer from Zane Keenan from a hit-in on the right levelled the match after 12 minutes. Indeed the fact Keenan was comfortable striking a free directly over the bar for two points rather than the conventional flick and a volley for a point was a bonus for the Irish.
They threatened again seconds later when substitute Shane Moloney spun in a central position but he dropped the ball wide of the post.
David McInerney was penalised for a kick on the Scotland left after 13 minutes and Kevin Bartlett took the free and again converted to restore the home side’s two point lead.
When Zane Keenan was fouled by Daniel Cameron on 16 minutes, Keenan took the free from the ground again and he restored parity for a second time.
Former Ireland U21 skipper James Toher replaced Shane Nolan as Ireland made their second change.
A superb Steven MacDonald ball down the Scots’ right picked out Grant Irvine who crossed but Roddy MacDonald’s shot was deflected wide by Mickey Burke. Steven MacDonald sent a terrific 65 over the bar to put Scotland two points in front for a third time. This time there was to be no Irish leveller as Scotland were in front and they would stay that way for the rest of the game.
Scotland scored the first goal of the game after 20 minutes as they began to put daylight between themselves and their opponents. Steven MacDonald played another measured pass down the right and Kevin Bartlett was too quick for Damien Healy and he played in a low cross. Glen MacKintosh took a touch from around the penalty spot before blasting a shot into the roof of the net to make it Scotland (1-6) 9-4 (0-4) Ireland.
Eoin Reilly saved a low shot from Kevin Bartlett from the right shortly after with Steven MacDonald and Grant Irvine involved in the lead up play.
Scotland boss Ronald Ross made his first change when Liam MacDonald replaced Shaun Nicolson after 24 minutes and the Kilmallie captain made an immediate impact. The goal started from with a long Steven MacDonald free from in front of the main stand which Roddy MacDonald did well to keep in play by the corner flag on the Scotland left. Liam MacDonald sent a high cross into the goal area and Fraser Heath flicked the ball out to the corner flag on the opposite side of the park where Glen MacKintosh chased and retrieved the ball. MacKintosh delivered a chipped cross which bounced once and Liam MacDonald smashed an unstoppable shot into the net to make it Scotland (2-6) 12-4 (0-4) Ireland.
When Scotland captain John Barr was fouled, Kevin Bartlett sent another free between the posts to add another two points which made it Scotland (2-8) 14-4 (0-4) Ireland.
The Scotland pre-match game-plan was in full flow as they concentrated on their shinty skills, keeping the ball on the ground and playing passes down the channels and using the wide areas of the Bught Park pitch to their benefit. Steven MacDonald was integral to their plans and the Newtonmore man played a free onto the goal on 29 minutes. Eoin Reilly batted the ball away but Fraser Heath was first to react and he thumped the ball high into the net from a tight angle, giving the keeper no chance, and making it Scotland (3-8) 17-4 (0-4) Ireland.
There was no respite for the Irish and when Glen MacKintosh fouled as a defender Bryan Murphy held his stick, Kevin Bartlett was given another two point chance and he made no mistake to make it Scotland (3-10) 19-4 (0-4) Ireland with 33 minutes played.
With Stuart MacDonald in the Scotland goal virtually a spectator, his opposite number Eoin Reilly saved well from Roddy MacDonald on 35 minutes and the keeper got the ball away, under the attentions of Glen MacKintosh.
Scotland were dominant as Clare’s McInerney tried to regroup his ragged defence.
Kevin Bartlett added two more points from the left touchline with 90 first half seconds remaining to make it Scotland (3-12) 21-4 (0-4) Ireland.
There was still time for Glen MacKintosh to find Liam MacDonald in space on the right and the Kilmallie man put the ball over the bar to make it Scotland (3-13) 22-4 (0-4) Ireland.
Evan MacRae’s half time whistle sounded at the end of the first 40 minutes to bring to an end a first half performance which must have exceeded even the wildest expectations of the Scotland management team.
There were harsh words in the visiting changing rooms at the break and Ireland now had the wind, and indeed the sun, at their backs at the restart.
When Callum Miller fouled David McInerney in the opening minute of the second half, McInerney picked himself up to take a ground attempt from the free but he put the ball wide of the post.
Kevin Bartlett put a hit-in wide a couple of minutes later with the sun now in his eyes.
Ireland made a third change as Paul Cody replaced McNicholas after 44 minutes.
A minute later, a Roddy MacDonald shot was saved after Kevin Bartlett and Fraser Heath had played a one-two and Roddy MacDonald took a blow to the hand as he tried to stop the Irish clearing their lines and had to be replaced by Neale Reid for his senior debut.
Paul Divilly and Shane Nolan came back on for Ireland with Gareth Johnson departed the scene.
Steven MacDonald was twice in the wars, suffering blows to the ribs and then the leg but he bravely battled on.
Niall O’Muineachain took over from Zane Keegan for as the Irish continued to ring the changes.
Ireland broke a 17 minute scoreless second half period on 57 minutes with their first goal of the game. Daniel Cameron was penalised when he slid in on Mickey Burke in front of the main stand. Zane Keenan sent a perfectly weighted free into the D and the Scots defence missed the ball and Shane Nolan trundled the ball the low into the net to make it Scotland (3-13) 22-7 (1-4) Ireland.
Seconds later Scotland keeper Stuart MacDonald had to look alert when a huge Zane Keenan strike from middle of park dropped in the D. MacDonald first palmed and then swept ball away with Paul Divilly looking to pick up any scraps.
Scotland notched their first points of the second half when Kevin Bartlett sent a great hit from the side-line between the posts with 61 minutes played which took the score to Scotland (3-15) 24-7 (1-4) Ireland.
Zane Keenan pulled two-points back a minute later with an equally impressive hit to make it Scotland (3-15) 24-9 (1-6) Ireland.
A Shane Nolan shot was deflected wide as Ireland threated but Zane Keenan put the resultant 65 wide of the post.
The second period was tousy at times but the Scots went toe-to-toe when necessary and John Barr and when Damien Healy clashed in midfield, both players were spoken to by referee MacRae.
Clever shielding from Rory Kennedy held off David McInerney as he tried to get on a ball over the top before Liam MacDonald caught Damien Healy on the head in midfield tussle. Zane Keenan missed the target with the resultant free.
Roddy MacDonald came back on in place of Neale Reid as the game moved into the final 15 minutes.
Kevin Bartlett pulled a side-line ball wide but as play switched to the other end, Zane Keenan did make the most of a two-point attempt when Lee Bain was penalised for a foul near the touchline. This made it Scotland (3-15) 24-11 (1-8) Ireland.
Glen MacKintosh and Damien Healy wrestled to the ground with MacKintosh in no mood to be intimidated by the visiting defence.
Scotland swept forward and John Barr found Kevin Bartlett who picked out Glen MacKintosh on the left but his back-hand shot went past the keeper’s right post with 8 minutes left.
A Zane Keenan free from in front of the stand dropped into the home goal area. The Scottish defence had chances to clear the ball in the ensuing melee but they couldn’t get it away and Shane Nolan bundled the ball home for his second goal of the afternoon to make it Scotland (3-15) 24-14 (2-8) Ireland with 73 minutes played.
Scotland goalie Stuart MacDonald dived to his left as a Derek McNicholas shot went just past the post after the Irish forward had picked up a Steven MacDonald clearance.
Scots’ defender Lee Bain came off in preference of Zandz Ferguson with just over 5 remaining.
Zane Keenan played a free to his right which gave Patrick Maher a goal attempt but Finlay MacRae did superbly well as he flew into the tackle before clearing the danger.
Excellent play from Fraser Heath by the corner flag on the left drew a foul from James Toher. Scotland’s Conor Cormack came on for Grant Irvine just before Kevin Bartlett put the free just wide with under a couple of minutes remaining.
The final whistle confirmed the Scotland (3-15) 24-14 (2-8) Ireland result and was greeted with Scottish celebration and no one was more pleased than newly crowned Scotland captain John Barr who received a warm handshake from Camanachd Association President Jim Barr – his father – before he was presented with the Marine Harvest Quaich by Steve Bracken from sponsors Marine Harvest.
It would be wrong to single out any Scottish players. They all did their job extremely well and their hard work ahead of the fixture was rewarded. They managed to effectively execute their manager’s pre-match instructions and they also played shinty and resisted the temptation to be sucked into a game more suited to the hurlers.
Ireland will come back bigger and better at Croke Park in four weeks’ time. No one would be surprised if they added quality to their squad and they will certainly ask more of their elite players.
Referee Evan MacRae and his team of officials handled the game well. It was MacRae’s first experience of refereeing a Shinty / Hurling contest and he handled a couple of flash-points by talking to the players rather than flashing cards.
Scotland from: Stuart MacDonald (Lovat); Callum Miller (Kyles Athletic), Finlay MacRae (Kinlochshiel); Steven MacDonald (Newtonmore), Rory Kennedy (Newtonmore), Lee Bain (Kingussie); John Barr (Glenurquhart) (captain), Grant Irvine (Kyles Athletic), Daniel Cameron (Oban Camanachd); Kevin Bartlett (Lovat), Roddy MacDonald (Kyles Athletic), Shaun Nicolson (Lochaber); Glen MacKintosh (Newtonmore), Fraser Heath (Glenurquhart); subs Liam MacDonald (Kilmallie), Neale Reid (Glenurquhart), Conor Cormack (Beauly), Zandz Ferguson (Lochaber), Paul MacArthur (Newtonmore), Stuart MacKintosh (Glenurquhart)
Head Coach – Ronald Ross
Assistant Coaches – Jimmy Gow, Ally Ferguson, Kevin Thain
Trainer - Neil Bowman
Medics – Shockie MacLennan, Alan Knox
Ireland from: Eoin Reilly (Laois); Mickey Burke (Meath), Bernard Deay (Kildare), Paul Divilly (Kildare), Damien Healy (Meath), Gareth Johnson (Down), Zane Keenan (Laois), Patrick Maher (Tipperary), David McInerney (Claire), David McNicholas (Westmeath), Brian Murphy (Kerry), Shane Nolan (Kerry), Eoin Price (Westmeath), Michael Whelan (Laois) (captain); subs: Shane Maloney (Galway), Niall O Muineachain (Kildare), James Toher (Meath), Paul Coady (Carlow)
Head Coaches – Jeffrey Lynskey and Gregory O'Kane
Match Referee – Evan MacRae
Fourth Official – Deek Cameron
Goal Judges – Calum Girvan, Andy MacLean & Archie Ritchie & Sean Cleere
Linesmen – Martin MacLean, Willie MacDonald
(Picture courtesy of Neil G Paterson)