Supporters attending the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 20 October 2012 to watch the Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling international between Scotland and Ireland are in for a treat as there will be an array of top shinty players and hurlers on show.
The two countries will compete for the Marine Harvest Quaich and the Irish have held the trophy for the last three years.
Four players who are sure to catch the eye;
Scotland captain Norman Campbell of Newtonmore will have an important role to play over the two legs. A leader both on and off the field, Campbell is Scotland’s most capped player and he looks certain to add two more caps to his haul over this series. He has been man of the match in this fixture on three occasions and he will marshal a defence looking to snuff out the undoubted threat of Shane Dooley and Patrick Maher amongst others. Scotland Head Coach Drew McNeil made 33 year old Campbell his captain for the double-header last year and he resisted the temptation to “share” the honour of leading the side amongst the squad as he sees the Newtonmore full back as an inspirational figure. There is no keener enthusiast of the Shinty / Hurling encounter and Campbell’s greatest international moment came in 2006 when he captained the Scots to victory over the Irish at Croke Park.
At the other end of the park, Caberfeidh’s Kevin Bartlett was given the dead-ball responsibilities in last year’s second test in Inverness. He responded with four two-point efforts in the opening half of the second test when the Scots played with the Bught Park wind at their backs. However the Scots only managed three second half points which included another Bartlett two-pointer to take his game tally to ten points. The former U21 international made his senior debut last year and he has played in defence, midfield and attack for Caberfeidh in Marine Harvest North Division 1 season. His role in this series is sure to be more offensive.
What can you say about Kilkenny’s Tommy Walsh? He is undoubtedly of one the top hurlers the game has ever produced and he thrives in the Shinty / Hurling format. The 29 year old has been part of the Kilkenny success story since he broke into the panel 10 years ago and he became a regular in the side a year later. His medal haul includes seven All-Ireland winners, eight Leinster winners and five Nation League winners. Indeed he also has two All-Ireland runners up medals which indicates the Cats dominance in hurling premier competition since Walsh joined the panel. The right wing-back is the only player in Gaelic games history to have won nine consecutive All-Star awards, one for every year since he became a Kilkenny regular, and he has been nominated this year again. He captain Ireland to success in the international series in 2009, a year in which he won all the game’s top individual awards, the All-Star, Texaco and GPA Hurler of the Year. He was also picked as part of the Leinster team of the last 25 years. Tommy Walsh was part of the Ireland squad which narrowly lost 1-10 to 1-9 in 2008. He was made captain in 2009 when he led the team to a 1-11 to 1-8 victory in another close encounter.
Shane Dooley missed out on last year’s international series which was probably a relief to Drew McNeil as he was the scourge of the Scots in 2010, scoring five of Ireland’s seven goals in their series victory. The 26 year old has been with the senior Offaly panel since 2007 and he enjoyed Leinster success this year when victory over Connacht game his side a 2-9 to 1-15 victory. Dooley also scored the winning Irish goal in injury time in 2009 when Ireland beat the Scots 1-11 to 1-8 and his Dad Joe Dooley has just stepped down as Scotland boss. This year, for the first time, goals scored in the series will count for five points as opposed to three so this is an area where Dooley could make a huge contribution.
2012 Shinty / Hurling / Camogie Programme
Saturday 20 October 2012 - Scotland v Ireland
The first Shinty / Hurling test between the Scotland and Ireland senior teams takes place at the Bught Park, Inverness at Saturday 20 October 2012. Throw-in is at 1.15pm. Admission is £10 for Adults, £5 for concessions and under 12s go free. Bring your Camanachd Association membership card and get a 20% discount!
Friday 26 October 2012 - Ireland U21 v Scotland U21
The Ireland U21 and Scotland U21 sides meet under the floodlights at St. Josephs Doora Barefield, Ennis on Friday 26 October 2012 with a 7pm throw-in. Admission is free.
Saturday 27 October – Claire v Scotland
The Scotland Women’s squad meet a Clare Camogie select at the Father McNamara Camogie Field, County Clare on Saturday 27 October. Throw-in is at 11am and admission is free.
Saturday 27 October 2012 – Ireland v Scotland
The second Shinty / Hurling test between the Ireland and Scotland senior teams takes place at Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday 27 October 2012 with a 2.05pm start. Admission is free.