Scotland boss Ronald Ross has named his inaugural squad for the forth-coming Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling International Series against Ireland.
The new Scotland boss has given first senior caps to Skye Camanachd’s Steven Morrison, Lorne MacKay from Lovat and Kyles Athletic’s Calum Miller. Steven Morrison, a former captain of the Scotland U21s, is not the only player in the squad from outside the two national divisions as there is a return to the international scene for Ballachulish’s John MacDonald who was Marine Harvest Player of the Year in 2008. Fort William’s Gary Innes returns after a two year absence to add experience to the attack.
40 year old Ross, who will be assisted by coaches Jimmy Gow and Ally Ferguson and trainer Neil Bowman, has opted to select just one keeper with Lovat’s Stuart MacDonald getting the nod ahead of Glenurquhart’s Stuart MacKintosh. This allows for five outfield substitutes in the nineteen man squad.
Newtonmore’s powerful midfielder Paul MacArthur is also back in the fold whilst Grant Irvine has been rewarded with a place in the squad for his fine form since his return to the Kyles team after a long-term injury.
One of the biggest boosts for the Scotland camp will be the keenness to be involved shown by Kyles Athletic’s talisman Roddy MacDonald.
There are nine changes from last year’s squad. As well as keeper Stuart MacKintosh, the now retired Norman Campbell of Newtonmore, the unavailable Donald Irvine of Kyles Athletic and Kilmallie’s Liam MacDonald, Daniel Cameron of Oban Camanachd who is on holiday, Kinlochshiel’s Keith MacRae, who has been troubled with injury this season, Kingussie pair James Hutchison and Lee Bain and Glen MacKintosh from Newtonmore are the omissions.
Lovat are the best represented club with four players in the squad whilst there are three each from Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore.
Scotland from:
Stuart MacDonald - Lovat
Steven Morrison – Skye Camanachd
John Barr - Glenurquhart
Calum Miller – Kyles Athletic
Steven MacDonald - Newtonmore
Finlay MacRae - Kinlochshiel
Callum Cruden - Lovat
Conor Cormack - Beauly
Louis Munro - Kingussie
Paul MacArthur - Newtonmore
John MacDonald - Ballachulish
John MacRae - Kinlochshiel
Grant Irvine – Kyles Athletic
Shaun Nicolson – Lochaber
Kevin Bartlett - Lovat
Fraser MacKintosh - Newtonmore
Roddy MacDonald - Kyles Athletic
Lorne MacKay - Lovat
Gary Innes - Fort William
Head Coach - Ronald Ross
Assistant Coaches - Jimmy Gow & Ally Ferguson
Trainer - Neil Bowman
The Scotland boss has had ability and mobility in mind when naming his pool and he said, “I am delighted with the squad we have selected for this year’s International matches. We have a skillful, fast and mobile group of players who I am confident will provide a highly competitive match and do their best to secure a first Series victory for Scotland”.
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. 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 in 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)