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Scotland Women (0-2) 2-12 (3-3) Dublin Women | |
23 October 2016 After three successive wins against Irish opposition, Stuart Reid’s Scotland Women’s squad faced their toughest test yet as they went down 12-2 to the Dublin Women in their Marine Harvest Shinty / Camogie challenge on the Bught Park outside pitch on Saturday 22 October 2016. A good crowd gathered for this for this 10.30am start on a cold, misty but dry morning in the Highland Capital. It was clear from the outset that Dublin were going to be tough opposition and early strikes over the bar from wing forwards Miriam Twomey and Alison Twomey had them 2-0 ahead with the latter’s effort going in off the post. Scotland, captained by Lochaber’s Kathleen Cameron, showed that they were up for the challenge though when Janette MacGregor capitalised on a two-point opportunity to set the ball between the posts to square the contest. An Irish goal was to give the visitors the advantage at the break when Orla Beagan breached the Scots’ rear-guard to score, making it 5-2 at the turn-around. Scotland started the second half well but Dublin were always dangerous on the break and an Orla Beagan shot was really well-saved with her club by Scots’ keeper Elizabeth MacGregor, high to her right. The home side continued to press and a Janette MacGregor free went wide of the post. The game’s defining moment came when play-maker Orla Beagan sent a superb high ball into the Scotland goal area. Elizabeth MacGregor darted off her line to palm the ball away but Grainne Free was quickly in on the rebound and she lifted the ball high into the net to extend the visitors’ advantage. It became clear that it wasn’t going to be Scotland’s day when Sarah O’Donovan, hit a shot from the right which bobbled into the net. A late Orla Beagan point rounded off the 12-2 win but the Scots will take a lot from the experience of playing a higher level of opposition than in recent years. Dublin captain Sarah O’Donovan, who was an All-Star nominee in 2015, was presented with the winner’s trophy by Marine Harvest’s Steve Bracken, with Women’s Camanachd Association President Lisa MacColl also in attendance, at half-time at the U21 international. Scotland Women from: Elizabeth McGregor (Badenoch & Strathspey), Jeanette McGregor (Badenoch & Strathspey), Rachel McCafferty (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Laura McCafferty (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Christy Docherty (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Mairi Duncan (Lochaber), Alana McGarrie (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Christina MacDonald (Skye Camanachd), Kathryn Moultrie (Aberdour), Lorna MacRae (Skye Camanachd), Kirsty Deans (Badenoch & Strathspey), Roma Fraser (Badenoch & Strathspey), Niamh Donnelly (Aberdour), Rona Stewart (Badenoch & Strathspey), Katy Smith (Aberdour), Laura Gallacher (Lovat), Kathleen Cameron (Lochaber) (captain), Emma Gordon (Skye Camanachd), Caitlin MacLean (Skye Camanachd), Taryn Neilson (Aberdour) Head Coach – Stuart Reid Assistant Head Coaches – Scott Campbell, Katie Drain & Ross Brown Sports Therapist – Sue Emery Dublin from: Faye McCarthy, Sinead Murphy, Eve O’Brien, Laura Twomey, Shauna McBride, Aisling Carolan, Hannah O’Dea, Miriam Twomey, Roisin MacLoughlin, Alison Twoney, Grainne Free, Orla Beagan, Laoise Quinn, Sarah O’Donovan (captain), Emier Keenan, Danielle Powell, Aoife Walsh, Aoife Dooley, Ciaea Tierney Co-managers – Shane Plowman & Michael O’Grady Selector – Ann Clogan Executive Officer – Mick Ward Mentors – Helen Cosgrave & Sile Nic Coitir
Match Referee – Neil Ferguson Umpires – Innes Wood, John Matheson, Billy MacLeod & Russell Ross
(The picture comes courtesy of www.neilgpaterson.com) |