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2015 Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling / Camogie Internationals …………. 4 Days To Go! | |
20 October 2015 Scotland U21 Head Coach Garry Reid is looking for his squad to adopt a similar approach to last year ahead of the 2015 Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling / Camogie internationals between Scotland and Ireland at the Bught Park on Saturday 24 October 2015. As he made his squad’s final preparations, Garry Reid said, “We are really looking for the players to take the same approach as last year. We want to do the same things as last year. We need to play shinty and get the ball close to their goal and that gives us the best chance to score goals. If we don’t score goals, we won’t win the game. Points over the bar won’t be enough and we won’t score from distance against their keeper. We have to take the ball close to their goal and try to find the back of the net. It is also important that we compete all over the pitch throughout the game. If we stand off the Irish players, they will punish us.” The Scots were convincing (4-9) 21-7 (0-7) winners at Pairc Esler, Newry last year and most of that squad were still eligible for this year. However Reid has been unable to call on the services of four key players. “There has been a bigger turn-around in players than I thought there would be from last year,” said Reid. “There are no recent injuries which I am pleased about but most of last year’s squad were still eligible this time-around. However Kyles’ defender Zac Coley, who was man of the match in 2014, has moved abroad so we lost him. We knew Fort William’s Arran MacPhee was injured whilst Glasgow Mid Argyll’s Finlay MacMillan has also been abroad for most of the season. Glenurquhart’s Fraser Heath is still eligible for the U21s but Ronald (Ross) wanted him for the senior squad. These are four big players who will have to do without but there absence gives a chance to others and that’s important.” The absence of Fraser Heath is unusual given that U21 age players have not been included in the senior squad in recent years. Reid said, “I spoke long and hard with Ronald about Fraser. Ronald very much sees Fraser as being part of his plans for the team. He is certainly not going along with the seniors to make up the numbers. He will have a key role and although his absence is a big blow to us, it does mean that someone else gets a chance in Fraser’s place. We’ve looked at 72 players throughout all the trials and narrowing the pool down to a final 19 players was really difficult. You feel as if you are letting players down when you tell them that they have not made the squad. However those who have missed out have taken it really well. They are obviously disappointed but they wish the team well and a number of them will get their chance in the future.” Reid added, “We have had good preparation. However the shinty season has gone on longer this year which meant our Sunday sessions have suffered a bit as some players have attended with knocks and have not been able to take part whilst we had Saturday sessions to fully concentrate on our preparations last year. The plus side is that the players have been playing competitively right up to the international which is good.”
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) |