Scotland Head Coach Drew McNeil put up a stout defence when asked about the international selection process for the 2011 Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling international double-header againstIreland.
There are those within the shinty community who say Scotland should simply pick our best 19 players and have one training session ahead of the series. The logic being that all players would then make themselves available and the process would be more in line withIrelands.
Drew McNeil introduced the current process. “During my interview for the National job, I proposed the current set-up so I obviously like it,” McNeil joked. “I’m not saying its right, or that it couldn’t be looked at again, but there are good reasons for it. Whichever 19 players I may pick, there will always be debate but that’s what makes sport the way it is. Every person has an opinion and that’s okay but not every person knows all the facts surrounding which players are available. The current system is a large commitment but I’m not asking anyone to do anything that I or the other coaches are not prepared to do.”
The Irish selection process is different and McNeil explains why. “Joe Dooley can only pick four players from hurling’s top tier. Ireland have trials but they are for invited players. We get over 60 nominations from the clubs for our trials each year so I would hate to think how many Joe would get if he threw open the door to nominations.”
McNeil explained the longer-term plan. “Our aim is to force Ireland to play more level one players. Then they will consider a headline match at Croke Park against their annual All-Star team because they currently believe they would slaughter us if they selected all their All-Starts. I don’t.”
The Scotland boss is also clear on the benefits he sees from the international series. “I would like the spin-off from being involved in the training sessions to inspire players to realise they can improve and that they then go away and improve themselves and then in turn inspire there team mates to improve. The Irish players are miles fitter and stronger. Shinty players have plenty to improve on and by playing against another sport they get the chance to see that first hand. So the series is a vehicle to improve shinty. Liam O’Neil, the incumbent GAA President, has made it clear that he is squarely behind the series and his ambition is for it to grow.”