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2015 Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling / Camogie Internationals …………. 1 Day To Go! | |
23 October 2015 The early team news is emerging and the Scotland bosses are putting the final touches to their plans ahead of the 2015 Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling / Camogie internationals between Scotland and Ireland at the Bught Park on Saturday 24 October 2015.
Scotland v Ireland Scotland senior boss Ronald Ross will start with on-form Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald between the sticks whilst Callum Miller from Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore’s Rory Kennedy will have vital roles in defence. The Scots’ boss is looking for plenty running from his players and whilst shinty’s top scorer with 32 goals, Glen MacKintosh from Newtonmore will be a real threat in front of goal. Kyles Athletic’s Roddy MacDonald has 25 goals whilst Glenurquhart’s Fraser Heath has 13 goals and they will provide plenty pace as will dead-ball expert Kevin Bartlett from Lovat whose recent scoring record in the international fixtures will no doubt have him ear-marked by the Irish as the Scotland danger-man. Expect the Scots to concentrate on their shinty skills, keep the ball on the ground and play passes down the channels and use the wide areas of the Bught Park pitch to their benefit. Ireland co-managers Jeffrey Lynskey and Gregory O'Kane were forced to make a couple of late changes to their squad with Waterford’s Maurice Shanahan and Antrim’s Neal McAuley replaced by Tipperary’s All-Star Patrick “Bonner” Maher and Conor Woods from Down. As far as replacements go, Patrick Maher is top drawer. He has previous experience of this fixture and his powerful running will be a real asset to the visitors. Conor Woods started in the both games in 2013 so he is another who knows what it is all about. Clare’s David McInerney will be pivotal at the back whilst Westmeath’s Eoin Price was amongst the points last season. Galway’s Shane Moloney is an interesting choice. He was Galway’s super-sub who bagged the stoppage-time winning point against Tipperary which booked Galway’s place in the 2015 All-Ireland final. It was the 22-year-old’s senior championship debut. Ronald Ross said, “Ireland have selected a number of players with experience of this fixture which will help them settle into the game quickly. We have to be ready for that.” Scotland from: Stuart MacDonald - Lovat Stuart MacKintosh – Glenurquhart Callum Miller – Kyles Athletic John Barr – Glenurquhart Rory Kennedy – Newtonmore Steven MacDonald – Newtonmore Finlay MacRae - Kinlochshiel Lee Bain - Kingussie Paul MacArthur – Newtonmore Shaun Nicolson – Lochaber Daniel Cameron – Oban Camanachd Zandz Ferguson – Lochaber Conor Cormack – Beauly Kevin Bartlett – Lovat Grant Irvine – Kyles Athletic Roddy MacDonald – Kyles Athletic Glen MacKintosh – Newtonmore Fraser Heath – Glenurquhart Neale Reid - Glenurquhart Liam MacDonald – Kilmallie
Ireland from: Eoin Reilly - Laois Brian Murphy – Kerry James Toher – Meath Matthew Whelan – Laois David McInerney – Clare Eoin Price – Westmeath Michael Burke – Meath Niall Ó Muineachain – Kildare Bernard Deay – Kildare Shane Moloney – Galway Shane Nolan – Kerry Zane Keenan - Laois Paul Divilly – Kildare Derek McNicholas – Westmeath Gareth Johnson – Down Damien Healy – Meath Conor Woods – Down Patrick Maher – Tipperary Match Referee – Evan MacRae
Scotland U21 v Ireland U21 Garry Reid’s Scotland U21s will be looking to build on last year’s 21-7 win in Ireland. Skye’s Iain MacLeod is in goal after a great season for Skye Camanachd. Captain Daniel Madej from Oban Celtic and Lovat’s SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup winner Michael MacKenzie will have important jobs to do in defence. There are goals in the Scotland attack with Skye Camanachd’s Jordan Murchison on target 32 times this season and Craig Anderson from Glasgow Mid Argyll grabbing 7 goals despite an injury-hit season. Ireland travel with Michael Breen from Tipperary and Waterford’s Austin Gleeson and forward Conor McDonald from Wexford. Michael Breen is a half back who has been in the Tipp team since 2014 and he has a Munster senior title to his name. 20 year old Austin Gleeson is a tricky and powerful centre back who is very adept at running with the ball on his hurl. Conor MacDonald is another exciting player. The 6ft 1in corner forward made his senior debut in 2013 and he has been a regular in the Wexford side ever since. Garry Reid said, “Ireland U21 always include good quality in their squad. It might be controversial but there is a case for saying that they are sometimes better than the senior team. They seem able to adapt very quickly to the composite rules game.” Scotland U21 from: 1 Iain MacLeod – Skye Camanachd 2 Daniel Madej – Oban Celtic 3 Michael MacKenzie - Lovat 4 Blair Morrison - Caberfeidh 5 Gary McKerracher – Oban Camanachd 6 Cameron Keith – Kyles Athletic 7 Innes MacDonald – Kyles Athletic 8 Donald Nixon - Kinlochshiel 9 Craig Morrison - Caberfeidh 10 Jordan Murchison – Skye Camanachd 11 Craig Anderson – Glasgow Mid Argyll 12 Lewis MacNicol – Kyles Athletic 14 Calum Stewart - Newtonmore 15 Jordan Fraser - Kinlochshiel 16 Rory MacGregor - Kingussie 17 Ewan Campbell - Beauly 18 Oliver MacRae - Kinlochshiel 19 John MacNulty - Glenorchy 20 Jack MacDonald – Beauly Ireland U21 from: 1 Paddy McKenna – Kildare 2 Ben Conroy – Laois 3 Rian Branagan – Down 4 Michael Breen – Tipperary 5 Keith Carmody – Kerry 6 James Doyle – Carlow 7 Michael Dudley – Antrim 8 Jack Fagan – Meath 9 Tommy Gallagher – Westmeath 10 Shane Gallen – Donegal 11 Austin Gleeson – Waterford 12 Martin Kavanagh – Carlow 13 Gerry Keegan – Kildare 14 Philip Lucid – Kerry 15 Conor McDonald – Wexford 16 Jack Regan – Meath 17 PJ Scully – Laois 18 Colm Stapleton - Laois
Match Referee - Sean Cleere
Scotland Ladies v Kildare Ladies Stuart Reid has highlighted his Scotland Ladies squad will to win as they go looking for a third successive win over Irish opposition. The Scots will be strong in the middle of the park with Skye duo Sarah Corrigall and Lorna MacRae and Badenoch & Strathspey’s Kirsty Deans looking to get a grip of the game from the throw-in. Captain Laura McCaffery and her Glasgow Mid Argyll club-mate Alana McGarrie will also be important players whilst Kirsty Delaney as scored 10 times for the Lochaber second team in Marine Harvest North Division 2 this season It remains to be seen how strong a squad Kildare travel with but their full team would provide a real test for the Scots as they reached the final of the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship where they were runners-up to Waterford. Stuart Reid said, “Sarah Corrigall’s experience will help the younger players in the team whilst Lorna MacRae will take confidence from the additional responsibility of playing in a more central position. Kirsty Deans is a terrific stick player and she has shown commitment by heading straight to Scotland training sessions after playing football for Inverness City who she captains. The girls are really looking forward to this and we have prepared to play Kildare’s best squad.” Scotland Ladies from: Elizabeth McGregor – Badenoch & Strathspey Kildare Ladies from: To be confirmed Match Referee – Martin MacLean
2015 Shinty / Hurling / Camogie International Match Schedule The Shinty / Hurling / Camogie international match schedule has been set ahead of this year’s meeting with Irish opposition.
Saturday 24 October 2015 - Bught Park, Inverness Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling International Scotland Senior Men v Ireland Senior Men (Throw in – 2pm) Scotland U21 Men v Ireland U21 Men (Throw in – 11.30am) Scotland Senior Women v County Kildare Senior Women (Throw in - 10.30am) Tickets can be bought in advance from Eden Court Theatre (01463 234234 / www.eden-court.co.uk) or at the ground on the day. Prices are £10 Adults / £5 Concession / U12s go FREE when accompanied by a paying adult. Discounts are available to Camanachd Association members.
Saturday 21 November 2015 – Croke Park, Dublin Hurling / Shinty International Ireland Senior Men v Scotland Senior Men (Followed by 2015 Gaelic Football v Aussie Rules International) (More details on the Croke Park encounter to follow)
(Picture courtesy of Neil G Paterson) |