Ireland boss Michael Walshe gave his thoughts ahead of the Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling first test against Ireland at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 18 October 2014.

Speaking to Arthur Sullivan from the GAA website, Walshe insists that interest from across the water is as strong as ever for this annual encounter. "The appetite is very big among the top players to play. Last year the likes of Brendan Maher, Jackie Tyrell and Richie Hogan all really fed into the enthusiasm of the others and they really got involved."

Walshe provided an interesting insight into Ireland’s selection process. The Irish have tended to include four “elite” players in their squads in recent years with the remainder of the pool made up from hurling’s second and third tier. Walshe said, “Obviously at this time of year, there are lots of different commitments with the club. For example, the Kilkenny and Tipperary Senior Hurling Championships were both delayed this year because of the All-Ireland Final replay and we couldn't get anyone from Kilkenny because of that. But from Tipperary we have Patrick 'Bonner' Maher again because his club have been knocked out of the championship and he became available. So that's how we do it. We try and get as wide a spread of counties involved as possible, I think that's important. It's a great opportunity for players from the different counties at all levels to get together in a way that they wouldn't have before and over the years it has been a great bonding experience for them all."

As well as the “elite” players, hurlers from the games’ second and third tier are given the opportunity to be involved with the national squad. David Kettle from Louth is one such player and the Knockbridge half forward told the Dundalk Leader of his delight at being picked for his country at senior level for the first time. “I was absolutely thrilled to get the call to say I’d made it into the 19 man squad,” he said. “I tried out a few years ago for the Irish U21 side and I didn’t play great so it was great to do myself justice in the trials and get the call.” Read more of what Kettle had to say by clicking on the following link Dundalk Leader

And it’s not just the players who have had their imaginations captured by the Shinty / Hurling spectacle. “The biggest part of it last year was that we played the first leg in Croke Park before the International Rules game against Australia," added Walshe, "That game got a hugely favourable reaction and I know that in my own county in Kilkenny, when I came home there was a massive reaction to it and I was thrilled with that. It's a very skilful game and very competitive. The Scots are hugely competitive, very much into it and it bonds very well culturally with us. We always have great weekends. It's a marvellously skilful game and it's a great thing to be part of. There was a man with me at the trial who hadn't seen it before and he couldn't get over the skill levels of the players involved. The skill levels on both teams are huge. The players generally grow into it. When you have players like Patrick Horgan, Bonner Maher and David McInerney (who played U21 last year) playing it and returning to it the following year, it's a really good advertisement for it."

Series Details

The 2014 Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling International First Test will take place at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 18 October 2014. The throw-in is at 2pm and tickets are available at the ground on the day or in advance at Eden Court Theatre - £10 adults, £5 concessions and U12s go free if accompanied by a paying adult. Discounts are available to Camanachd Association members.  Anyone who is unable attend the game can watch the action live by tuning into BBC2 Scotland and TG4 in Ireland.

The Second Test takes place a week later at Pairc Esler, Newry, Northern Ireland, on Saturday 25 October 2014. Throw-in is at 5pm and the Second Test will be broadcast by TG4 in Ireland and BBC Alba in Scotland.

Scotland U21 and Ireland U21 also meet in their Shinty / Hurling international at Newry on Saturday 25 October 2014. Throw-in is at 3pm.

Scotland’s Senior Women face a Shinty / Camogie clash with a County Down select at Newry on Saturday 25 October 2014. Throw-in is at 1pm.

(Picture courtesy of Neil G Paterson)