Scotland recorded an impressive Croke Park victory in the first test international against Ireland on Saturday 30 October 2010.
The Irish were quickest out of the blocks and they ran up a (1-2) 5-0 (0-0) lead within the first 6 minutes of the game which included a Shane Dooley goal – after a great run down the left by Andrew O'Brien of Wicklow - and a point apiece from Offaly man Dooley and Antrim’s Neil McManus. The nearest Scotland came the early stages was a free from Fort William’s Duncan Rodger which whistled just wide of the upright.
Fort William’s Niall MacPhee scored the Scot’s first point from distance a minute later.
Scotland captain Gary Innes took a nasty blow to the face on 8 minutes and the Fort William player required touchline treatment and a couple of stitches before returning to the field of play.
Scotland gradually fought their way back into the match and efforts from Fort William’s John MacDonald, Kingussie’s Ronald Ross helped get their side level (1-3) 6-6 (0-6).
The Scot’s took the lead for the first time in the match on 25 minutes. John MacDonald made a great run down the right and cut the ball back to Ronald Ross. Scotland’s top marksman saw his shot well save by Irish keeper Paul Dermody from Kildare. However the rebound came to Kinlochshiel’s Finlay MacRae and he smacked the ball between the posts to put Scotland (1-3) 6-7 (0-7) ahead.
The Irish quickly levelled before the Scots found the back of the net for the first time on 31 minutes after Finlay MacRae reacted first to a cross from the left to calmly stroke the ball into the net to put Scotland (1-4) 7-10 (1-7) ahead.
A minute later John MacDonald set up Gary Innes and he steered the ball past Dermody into the net to put the Scotland (1-4) 7-13 (2-7) in front.
Play quickly switched to the other end and Scotland keeper Stuart MacKintosh from Glenurquhart made a terrific save from Shaun Dooley before clearing the danger. Dooley put the resultant dead ball between the posts.
Just when it looked as if the Scots were going to take a (1-5) 8-13 (2-7) advantage into the break, the Irish broke with pace. Keeper Stuart MacKintosh raced from his goal to try and avert the danger but the ball broke to the right wing and Shaun Dooley knocked the cross down into the net to reduce the visitors lead to (2-5) 11-13 (2-7) at the break. The goal meant that manager’s son Dooley scored 10 of Ireland’s 11 first half points after a breath-taking first 35 minutes.
Scotland vice-captain Ronald Ross scored a 2 pointer from in front of goal a couple of minutes into the second half to put his side (2-5) 11-15 (2-9) in front.
Scotland captain Gary Innes was now really beginning to impose himself on the match and he saw a hit from the left drop agonisingly past the goal a couple of minutes later as the Scottish forwards tried to get a vital touch.
Innes put another 2 pointer between the posts to make it (2-5) 11-17 (2-11) on 42 minutes.
Scotland continued to press and Dermody saved well from Gary Innes on 55 minutes.
The Irish picked off another point before again made good stops from Gary Innes and John MacDonald to leave the Irish trailing (2-6) 12-17 (2-11).
Dermody then made a fantastic dicing save to his left after Ronald Ross had teed up Gary Innes.
A couple of points from each side left Scotland (2-8) 14-19 (2-13) before Scotland keeper Stuart MacKintosh had to look lively to thwart Shaun Dooley on 56 minutes.
Ireland fought their way back into the game to reduce the Scotland lead to (2-12) 18-20 (2-14) on 63 minutes.
The increasing Croke Park crowd ahead of the second Daily Mail International Rules Test between Ireland and Australia helped create a tense atmosphere as Scot’s Head Coach Drew McNeil paced the touchline, urging his troops on.
Scotland failed to clear their lines a minute later seconds later and a ball between the posts reduced the deficit to (2-13) 19-20 (2-14) – giving the visitors only a single point lead.
Shaun Nicolson and Ronald Ross combined on 65 minutes but keeper Dermody did well to stop Ross by clearing the danger.
A crucial Finlay MacRae 2 pointer 5 minutes from time then gave Scotland some breathing space and a (2-13) 19-22 (2-16) lead.
Ireland scored a couple of one pointers in the closing minutes through John Rowley from Laois and eight times GAA All Star and Ireland captain Tommy Walsh but Scotland held on to secure a (2-15) 21-22 (2-16) victory.
Ireland Scorers -- Shaun Dooley 2-4 (1 65) / Patrick Horgan 0-5 (1f) / Neil McManus 0-3 / Eoin Nolan 0-1 / John Rowney 0-1 / Tommy Walsh 0-1
Scotland Scorers -- Ronald Ross 0-6 (3f) / Finlay MacRae 1-3 (1 65) / Gary Innes 1-2 (1 65) / John MacDonald 0-3 (1f) / Shaun Nicolson 0-1 / Niall MacPhee 0-1
Ireland from:
Paul Dermody (Kildare)
Aaron Graffin (Antrim)
Darren McCormack (Westmeath)
Tom Murnane (Kerry)
Jackie Tyrrell (Kilkenny)
Eoin Nolan (Carlow)
Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) (captain)
Stephen Clynch (Meath)
Willie Hyland (Laois)
Patrick Horgan (Cork)
Gareth Johnston (Down)
Neil McManus (Antrim)
Andrew O'Brien (Wicklow)
Shane Dooley (Offaly)
Substitutes (rolling)
Paul McCormack (Armagh)
Barry McFall (Antrim)
Brendan Murtagh (Westmeath)
John Rowny (Laois)
Scotland from:
Stuart MacKintosh (Glenurquhart)
Norman Campbell (Newtonmore)
John Barr (Glenurquhart)
Neil MacDonald (Lochaber)
Duncan Rodger (Fort William)
Ian MacDonald (Bute)
Chris Bamber (Fort William)
Niall MacPhee (Fort William)
Gary Innes (Fort William) (captain)
Finlay MacRae (Kinlochshiel)
John MacDonald (Fort William)
Roddy MacDonald (Kyles Athletic)
Ronald Ross (Kingussie)
Substitutes (rolling)
Scott Campbell (Newtonmore)
Andrew Corrigan (Glenurquhart)
Paul Gow (Kingussie)
Grant Irvine (Kyles Athletic)
Shaun Nicolson (Lochaber)
Referee - Tony Carroll (Offaly)
The result means that Scotland take a single point advantage into the second test at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 13 November 2010.