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Scotland U21 (2-11) 17-30 (4-18) Ireland U21 | |
23 October 2016 Ireland U21 fought off a spirited second half comeback from their Scottish counter-parts to win the Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling international at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 22 October 2016. Scotland U21 boss Allan MacRae made a number of changes to the squad which lost last year. Indeed only six players from that pool survived and new cap John Gillies was forced to call-off on the morning of the match with a flu-virus. Inveraray keeper Scott MacLachlan was given a debut in goal. Ireland U21 squad manager William Maher from Tipperary had to make changes to his original squad. Waterford’s Austin Gleeson, Wexford's Conor McDonald, Carlow’s James Doyle and Meath’s Sean Quigley were replaced by Tipperary’s Andrew Coffey, Wexford’s Simon Donohoe and Carlow’s Dion Wall. Ireland took a grip of this match from the outset thanks to an early two-point effort from Philip Lucid who was to go on to be an influential figure in this encounter. However the Scots launched an immediate response with Danny Kelly notching a two-pointer to draw the sides level. Philip Lucid put the Irish back in front. He saw his initial shot deflected past the post but he lifted and volleyed the resultant 65 yard attempt between the posts to make it 3-2. Scotland battled back and a last-gasp intervention from Ireland’s Gerald Walsh thwarted a goal attempt from Danny Kelly. It was Ireland who would be first to find the back of the net moments later. Tom Fox lofted the ball forward into the centre of the Scots’ defence and Jack Sheridan played a quick one-two with Jack Goulding before soloing forward from the left to score. Worse was to follow for the Scots as a superb run from Tom Fox saw him get away from Barry MacDonald and the Tipperary youngster smashed the ball high to the keeper’s left to make it 9-2. Philip Lucid added another point before a two-pointer from Scotland’s Craig Morrison made it 10-4. Daniel Staunton chipped in with another Irish point and when Philip Lucid sent forward a long free from midfield, Jack Sheridan turned away from Ewan Campbell but Scott MacLachlan made a brilliant save, turning Lucid’s point-blank shot over the bar at the expense of just a single point which made it 12-4. Two more points from Craig Morrison made it 12-6 but a superb shuffle from Daniel Staunton made just enough space to send the ball over the bar for another Irish point. Arran MacPhee twice went close to reducing the deficit. First, MacPhee cut in from the right and saw his initial shot saved. MacPhee collected the rebound and this time, shooting from the left, his attempt went past the post. The Scotland pressure eventually paid off. Savio Genini surged in from the right and as Ireland struggled to get the ball away, Genini stretched low to push the ball to Will Cowie who tucked a low shot into the net at the back post for a debut goal which made it 13-9. The goal was a boost for the Scots and Danny Kelly sent a free wide just moments later. It was Ireland’s half though and great inter-play between Andrew Coffey and Daniel Staunton saw Coffey get away from Rory MacKeachan and the Tipperary player ran in to score, high to the keepers right, to make it 16-9 at the interval. A side-line cut from Philip Lucid added the first two points of the second half as the Irish extended their lead. And when Daniel Staunton played in Jack Sheridan, Scott MacLachlan saved well, turning the ball round the post. However Philip Lucid made no mistake with the resultant 65 effort to make it 19-9. Scotland needed to score next if they were going to have any chance and when John McNulty won possession, Gerald Walsh missed his ball forward and Charlie MacDonald showed great composure to take a touch past diving keeper Enda Rowland before flicking the ball low into the net. The fight-back was on and McNulty was involved again just after. He was fouled and Craig Morrison sent the ball between the posts to make it 19-14. Nick Dalgety added another point when he found space on the right and another Craig Morrison two-pointer made it 19-17 but that was as close as Scotland would get. Craig Morrison sent a free wide of the post with 15 minutes remaining and the Irish powered through the closing stages to clinch a convincing win. The next Irish goal came into the fortunate category as Daniel Staunton held off Michael MacKenzie to get a touch on a high ball down the middle and the home support watched as the ball rolled agonisingly into the net to make it 23-17. Staunton then took down a ball from Philip Lucid before adding another point. The Irish power-play continued and Lucid added a two-pointer and then a single before Edna Rowland saved from Nick Dalgety at the other end. Another point from dead-ball expert Philip Lucid made it 28-17 but Scotland never gave up and a wonderful Blair Morrison run was cheered by the home support but the Irish defence managed to scramble the ball away as Morrison neared the goal. When Danny Kelly fouled Philip Lucid, the Irish number nine picked himself up to hit a two-pointer over the bar for his thirteenth point of the afternoon which made it 30-17. Ireland had another scoring opportunity seconds from the end but Barry MacDonald did brilliantly as he bravely charged down Philip Lucid’s two point attempt. Ireland’s skill and strength gave them a deserved win against a younger Scottish side and they retained the U21 trophy which was presented to their captain, Keith Carmody from Kerry, by Steve Bracken from sponsors Marine Harvest. Scotland U21 from: Scott MacLachlan (Inveraray), Rory MacKeachan (Kingussie), Ewen Campbell (Beauly), Michael MacKenzie (Lovat) (captain), Euan Lloyd (Glenurquhart), Blair Morrison (Caberfeidh), Calum Grant (Kingussie), John Gillies (Skye Camanachd), Innes Blackhall (Kilmallie), Danny Kelly (Lovat), Barry MacDonald (Lochaber), Will Cowie (Skye Camanachd), Oliver MacRae (Kinlochshiel), Savio Genini (Kingussie), Arran MacPhee (Fort William), Daniel MacVicar (Oban Camanachd), Charlie MacDonald (Inverness), John McNulty (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Craig Morrison (Caberfeidh), Nick Dalgety (Lochcarron) Head Coach – Allan MacRae Assistant Head Coaches - Callum McLeod & Ian McDonald Trainer – Davie McVey Physio / First Aid – Lorna Forsyth Ireland U21 from: Enda Rowland (Laois), Keith Carmody (Kerry) (captain), Andrew Coffey (Tipperary), Simon Donohue (Wexford), Tom Fox (Tipperary), Jack Goulding (Kerry), Barry Heffernan (Tipperary), Osien Kelly (Offaly), Philip Lucid (Kerry), David Reilly (Meath), Corey Scahill (Mayo), Daniel Staunton (Wicklow), Jack Sheridan (Kildare), Gerald Walsh (Antrim) subs Oisen Kelly (Offaly), Ryan McCambridge (Antrim), Dion Wall (Carlow), Sean Whelan (Carlow) Head Coach – William Maher Assistant Head Coach – Conor Phelan
Match Referee – Sean Cleere, Kilkenny Umpires – Russell Ross, Andy MacLean, Archie Ritchie, Billy MacLeod, Linesmen - Andy MacLean & Iain Kennedy
(The picture comes courtesy of www.neilgpaterson.com) |