There was a debut win for Scotland Women’s Head Coach Stuart Reid as his side edged out Dublin (3-4) 13-11 (2-5) at the Bught Park on Saturday 2 November 2013.

This 10.30am throw up was moved to the one of outside pitches as a Saturday morning ground inspection ruled that the Bught Park was only able to take two games and the U21 and senior internationals took precedent.

The sides were piped onto the pitch on a cold but dry morning and there was little doubt that this would be a stiff test for the Scots as Dublin, despite being a few players short from their usual starting line-up, were 2013 All-Ireland Junior Champions and they had remained unbeaten all season.

Skye Camanachd’s Lorna MacRae got the Scots opening point when she battled to win possession before her back-hand shot was deflected over the bar for a point by Dubs keeper Stephanie Carthy.

Scotland came close to extending their lead when Glasgow Mid Argyll’s Kristen Munro played the forward to Glengarry's Laura Gallacher and her shot went narrowly wide.  

There was more to come from the Scots as Aberdour’s Katie Booth scored a spectacular goal when she crashed the ball into the roof of the net after GMA’s Katie Drain and Laura Gallacher had combined to pressure the Dubs defence following a 45 yard ball from Kristen Munro.

Dubs responded from the restart and a great solo from Cliona MacCulloch saw her burst through the home defence and she put the ball over the bar to make it Scotland (1-1) 4-1 (0-1) Dublin.

The visitors pulled another point back when dead ball expert Georgie Kelly put the ball between the posts for another point.

The game continued to swing from end to end and Aberdour’s Katy Smith played the ball forward, it was deflected back into her path by an Irish defender and Smith held off a challenge before her fine drive seemed to be turned into her own net by Irish keeper Stephanie Carthy to extend Scotland’s advantage Scotland (2-1) 7-2 (0-2) Dublin.

Scotland keeper Elizabeth MacGregor from Badenoch & Strathspey did well to palm away a shot from distance from 20.

Dubs started to come more into the game and Georgie Kelly was threatening from dead balls but she let Scotland off the hook when she put a set piece opportunity wide after Laura McCafferty from GMA had been penalised by referee Evan MacRae.

Dublin pressed the Scots on the heavy pitch and Georgie Kelly had another set-piece chance when referee MacRae gave a foul against Kristen Munro and Kelly put the ball between the posts to make it Scotland (2-1) 7-3 (0-3) Dublin.

Dublin reduced Scotland’s advantage to three points when Rosin Collins collected a pass before juggling the ball and sending an impressive volley over the bar to make it Scotland (2-1) 7-4 (0-4) Dublin.

Laura Gallacher played the ball to Skye Camanachd’s Jenna Beaton but she was crowded out in front of goal in what was the final chance of the half.  

Georgie Kelly put another point over the bar for the first score of the second half as the Dublin comeback continued.

Scotland keeper Elizabeth MacGregor made a great save from a Georgie Kelly effort as the Irish side continued to threaten.

Scotland had led 7-2 but they fell 8-7 behind when Georgie Kelly played a 45 yard ball into the home goal area and Erner Keenan latched onto a rebound and tucked it into the net to make it Scotland (2-1) 7-8 (1-5) Dublin and Dubs led for the first time in the game.

Dublin had the momentum and Scotland Head Coach Stuart Reid made some positional changes which paid off when Kirsty Deans played the ball forward and Katie Drain flicked it into the path of Laura Gallacher in space and she made no mistake as she fired an unstoppable shot into the net to the delight of the home support to make it Scotland (3-1) 10-8 (1-5) Dublin.

Roared on by the home crowd, the Scots added another point when Aberdour's Lisa Norman released Laura Gallacher who made a rampaging run down the left wing and her ball inside was fired over the bar by Lorna MacRae and her second point of the game made it Scotland (3-2) 11-8 (1-5) Dublin.

Georgie Kelly put a free wide as Dubs tried to stem the Scotland tide but when Laura Gallacher was fouled at the other end, Katy Smith put the balls between the posts for a two-pointer which made it Scotland (3-4) 13-8 (1-5) Dublin.

Dubs showed why they had enjoyed such a successful season as they fought back again and Elizabeth MacGregor in the Scotland goal did well to deal with another ball from distance from Georgie Kelly.

Erner Keenan gave the Scotland a nervy ending to the game when she juggled the ball through the Scotland defence before finding the back of the net for her second goal of the game which made it Scotland (3-4) 13-11 (2-5) Dublin

The Scots knew that another Irish goal would see them fall behind for only the second time in the contest but they dug deep and Jenna Beaton almost got on the end of a Lorna MacRae cross from the right and they saw out the closing stages of the game to record a superb win.

Scotland captain Laura McCafferty was presented with the Marine Harvest Quaich by Marine Harvest Managing Director Alan Sutherland.   

Scotland from:

1 Elizabeth MacGregor – Badenoch & Strathspey

2 Rachel McCafferty – Glasgow Mid Argyll

3 Laura McCafferty - Glasgow Mid Argyll

4 Kirsty Delaney – Lochaber

5 Jeannette MacGregor – Badenoch & Strathspey

6 Vicky Henderson – Aberdour

7 Alana McGarrie - Glasgow Mid Argyll

8 Kristen Munro - Glasgow Mid Argyll

9 Kirsty Deans – Badenoch & Strathspey

10 Kirsty Gray - Glasgow Mid Argyll

11 Katie Booth – Aberdour

12 Katy Smith – Aberdour

13 Rhona MacIntyre – Badenoch & Strathspey

14 Lorna MacRae – Skye Camanachd

15 Kathleen Cameron – Lochaber

16 Jenna Beaton – Skye Camanachd

17 Katie Drain - Glasgow Mid Argyll

18 Laura Gallacher – Glengarry

19 Lisa Norman – Aberdour

Head Coach – Stuart Reid

Assistant Coach – Eoghan Stewart

Assistant Coach – Scott Campbell

Trainer – Yvonne Connaughton

 

Match Referee – Evan MacRae

Umpires - John Angus Gillies, John MacLeod, Billy MacLeod, John Matheson

Linesmen - Archie Ritchie, Calum Girvan

 

Click on the following link to see the match highlights Scotland (3-4) 13-11 (2-5) Dublin

 

Picture courtesy of www.neilgpaterson.com