| |
| Second Half Power Play Gives Ireland Victory - Scotland (0-14) 14-18 (1-15) Ireland | |
| 19 December 2013 Ireland retained the Marine Harvest Quaich with a 5-1 series win as they followed up their Croke Park victory with a 18-14 victory over Scotland in the Marine Harvest Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling International second test at a wet Bught Park on Saturday 2 November 2013. The series rules saw Ireland take a 3–1 lead in to the second test following their 24-18 victory at Croke Park a week earlier. The Irish collected two points for the win whilst both sides picked up a bonus point for scoring two goals. Ireland were looking for their fifth successive series win and Scotland attacked the town end of the Bught Park. The clashes between the two countries favoured Ireland since the introduction of home and away series. 2010 - Scotland (2-16) 22-21 (2-15) Ireland Scotland’s last single test win was at Croke Park in 2010 and the Scots last lifted the Marine Harvest Quaich in 2008 thanks to a (1-10) 13-12 (1-9) win at Nowlan Park, back when the competition was decided over one match. Scotland manager Drew McNeil made just one change to his starting line-up with Beauly’s Conor Cormack starting in place of Callum Cruden from Lovat. Ireland co-managers Michael Walshe and John Meyler named Eoin Kelly from Laois in goal in place of Kerry’s Bernard Rochford. Eoin Reilly from Laois and Limerick’s Graeme Mulcahy were missing from the first encounter but there were places for experienced Kilkenny duo Jackie Tyrell and Richie Hogan. Jack Kavanagh from Carlow dropped onto the bench whilst Armagh’s Kieran McKiernan came off the bench to take his place in the starting line up. A reasonable crowd of over 2,000, including GAA President Liam O'Neill, gathered for the Celtic Clash and they were treated to a fine rendition of Flower of Scotland from 2012 Mod Gold medallist Eilidh Davis.
The early stages were nip and tuck and Scotland got their noses in front in the opening minute when Lovat’s Kevin Bartlett put a dead ball over after Jackie Tyrell had fouled Newtonmore’s Fraser MacKintosh so the home side led Scotland (0-2) 2-0 (0-0) Ireland. Bartlett missed another opportunity from wide on the left after Arron Graffin from Antrim fouled Newtonmore’s Glen MacKintosh. The Irish fought back and a great solo from Kildare’s Paul Divilly was abruptly halted by Newtonmore’s Steven MacDonald with the Scot injuring his shoulder. Moments later, Scotland keeper Stuart MacDonald from Lovat made a great save just under the bar after a volley from distance from Richie Hogan. Ireland captain Neil McManus from Antrim was their main scoring threat in the first test and he pulled a point back from the resultant 65 yard opportunity to reduce the deficit to Scotland (0-2) 2-1 (0-1) Ireland. Steven MacDonald put his body in the way to deflect an effort from Kerry man Darragh O’Connell past the goal. However McManus opened his account as he levelled the game by converting the 65 yarder on 8 minutes to make it Scotland (0-2) 2-2 (0-2) Ireland. Down’s Gareth Johnston and Richie Hogan combined before Hogan put Ireland ahead for the first time in the game when he fired over after 10 minutes to make it Scotland (0-2) 2-3 (0-3) Ireland. Referee Deek Cameron awarded a drop-ball when Fraser MacKintosh seemed to be fouled. However Jackie Tyrell was penalised at the restart and Kevin Bartlett drove the ball between the posts to edge the Scots back in front Scotland (0-4) 4-3 (0-3) Ireland. The rain started to come down as Oban Camanachd’s Daniel Cameron tripped Gareth Johnston which gave McManus the opportunity to draw the Irish level again at Scotland (0-4) 4-4 (0-4) Ireland with15 minutes played. A late Steven MacDonald challenge on Patrick Maher from Tipperary allowed McManus to put another point between the posts on 18 minutes. MacDonald received a yellow card for his indiscretion and Ireland gained a single point advantage, Scotland (0-4) 4-5 (0-5) Ireland. Kevin Bartlett did really well to notch another two-pointer from in front of the Bught Park stand on 20 minutes to leave the Scots in front, Scotland (0-6) 6-5 (0-5) Ireland. A minute later, Richie Hogan swivelled and put the ball over from open play to make it level pegging once more at Scotland (0-6) 6-6 (0-6) Ireland.. Kinlochshiel’s John MacRae replaced Liam MacDonald from Kilmallie for Scotland. Bartlett bagged another two-pointer on 22 minutes to make it Scotland (0-8) 8-6 (0-6) Ireland after Glen MacKintosh was pushed in the back by his marker. With the Highland rain getting heavier, Cahir Healy from Laois pulled a point back when he picked the ball up in space on the right after 24 minutes to make it Scotland (0-8) 8-7 (0-7) Ireland.. However Bartlett took his and Scotland’s first half tally into double figures when Down’s Connor Woods was adjudged to have kicked the ball in the middle of the park. This gave the home side a Scotland (0-10) 10-7 (0-7) Ireland advantage with 26 minutes played. Moments later, Scotland came within a whisker of getting the game’s opening goal. Lochaber’s Shaun Nicolson played the ball forward into space and Kinlochshiel’s Finlay MacRae capitalised on an error by Brendan Maher from Tipperary and he evaded two challenges before slipping the ball to Glen MacKintosh. However Ireland keeper Eoin Reilly made a fine save from MacKintosh’s drive and although Scotland’s Shaun Nicolson got onto the rebound and his scoop forward was flicked across the goal line by Finlay MacRae but the home support were left frustrated as the ball stayed out of the net. Kingussie’s Lee Bain replaced Fraser MacKintosh with half an hour played. Scotland captain Norman Campbell from Newtonmore needed treatment to his hand after being caught by a swing from Glenurquhart’s John Barr’s swing as the Scot’s defensive pair battled to deny Ireland’s Patrick Mayer from Tipperary. After heavy challenge on Shaun Nicolson on the left, Kevin Bartlett’s dead ball was blocked by Cahir Healy on 34 minutes. The loose ball fell to Nicolson and his effort went marginally wide. Callum Cruden came on in place on Shaun Nicolson which allowed the Lochaber man to get treatment for his earlier knock. Gareth Johnston also required treatment after a John Barr swing caught him on the side of the face but he was able to continue on the field of play. With just over a couple first half minutes remaining, the Scots still held a three point advantage, but the Irish kept plugging away and a terrific point from Gareth Johnston, from wide on the left, made it Scotland (0-10) 10-8 (0-8) Ireland. The match almost boiled over at the other end of the field just seconds later with Brendan Maher, Arron Graffin, Finlay MacRae and Glen MacKintosh all involved but referee Deek Cameron sensibly sorted matters out with a stern word before prompting a couple of handshakes. A great turn and shot from Richie Hogan, similar to his opening strike, reduced the deficit to a single point at Scotland (0-10) 10-9 (0-9) Ireland and the first 40 minutes had come and gone. Darragh O’Connell levelled the game once more at Scotland (0-10) 10-10 (0-10) Ireland after a brilliant solo run from midfield with what was his second point of the afternoon with 3 stoppage time minutes played. Play raged on and John MacRae did well to win possession and release Lee Bain down the Scotland left but although Bartlett got on the end of Bain’s cross, he was unable to get a shot on goal. The Scots almost got the first half goal they craved in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Kevin Bartlett won the ball and found Lee Bain whose first time pass gave Glen MacKintosh a chance but his effort rose over the bar and the Scots had to settle for a single point half time lead Scotland (0-11) 11-10 (0-10) Ireland but their play deserved a bigger advantage. Ireland’s Arron Graffin injured his arm early in the second half and he was replaced as Conor Woods was reintroduced into the action Westmeath’s Derek McNicholas came on in place of Paul Divilly for the visitors. Lee Bain threatened the Irish defence before being crowded out on 48 minutes and just seconds later, play switched to the other end and Ireland scored the only goal of the game when Patrick Maher collected a clever reverse pass from Neil McManus. Maher got away from the Scotland defence before firing low into the ground to beat Stuart MacDonald and make it Scotland (0-11) 11-13 (1-10). Scotland manager Drew McNeil freshened up his side with Keith MacRae and Glen MacKintosh coming back onto the park for Shaun Nicolson and Conor Cormack. A dead ball over the bar from Kevin Bartlett wide on the right on 51 minutes, his twelfth point of the game, restored parity at Scotland (0-13) 13-13 (1-10) Ireland. Ireland substitute Derek McNicholas passed up a great chance after a run down the left from Patrick Maher with home goalie Stuart MacDonald doing really well to keep the ball out of the net. Steven MacDonald was injured in the melee and he had to leave the field with Conor Cormack making a quick return. Neil McManus missed the resultant 65 yard effort. However Ireland started to pull away as McManus fired over after James Hutchison of Kingussie had tripped Gareth Johnston on 56 minutes. This made the score Scotland (0-13) 13-14 (1-11) Ireland. Then Johnston added another point after being found by Glen MacKintosh to open up a two point advantage, Scotland (0-13) 13-15 (1-12) Ireland. Neil McManus turned on the style as he produced a mazy run through the home defence before lobbing the ball over the bar for another point on 61 minutes which made it Scotland (0-13) 13-16 (1-13) Ireland. Ireland were enjoying their best period of the game and Stuart MacDonald had to be alert moments later to deal with a ball into the area from Derek McNicholas. Scotland gave Glenurquhart keeper Stuart MacKintosh and outing on 63 minutes as he replaced Stuart MacDonald in goal as he had done in the final quarter of the first test in Ireland. Steven MacDonald was able to return to the field on 65 minutes and he replaced James Hutchison. Stuart MacKintosh made a superb save after a superb ball from Jack Cavanagh from the middle of the park dropped down on his goal. MacKintosh did well again to block Patrick Maher just 10 minutes from time as the Tip man broke clear of the Scotland defence. Ireland extended their lead to Scotland (0-13) 13-17 (1-14) Ireland on 72 minutes as Richie Hogan put the ball over the bar after being found by Gareth Johnston. Gareth Johnston was replaced seconds later. A clever ball into the goal area by Shaun Nicolson was deflected wide by the Ireland defence. Scotland knew that they needed goals to win the series and Newtonmore’s Norman Campbell attempted to drop the resultant 65 into the goal area but the ball slipped past the post. Donegal’s Danny Cullen came on for Cahir Healey as the superb Irish skipper Neil McManus made it Scotland (0-13) 13-18 (1-15) Ireland with his seventh score of the afternoon after Kyles Athletic’s Donald Irvine had fouled Derek McNicholas with just over 4 minutes remaining. Scotland, with John Barr now in attack, continued to pass up the opportunity to snap up some single and double points as Bartlett played another free into the goal area but the Irish defence stayed firm. Conor Cormack, who had an excellent debut series, got the final point of the game in injury time when he pounced on a clearance from the Irish defence to make the final score Scotland (0-14) 14-18 (1-15) Ireland and Ireland were 5-1 series winners. Ireland captain Neil McManus was presented with the Marine Harvest Quaich by Marine Harvest Managing Director Allan Sutherland.
Scotland Scorers: Kevin Bartlett (0-12), Glen MacKintosh (0-1), Fraser MacKintosh (0-1), Conor Cormack (0-1) Ireland Scores: Neil McManus (0-7), Richie Hogan (0-4), Gareth Johnson (0-2), Patrick Maher (1-0), Darragh O'Connell (0-1), Cahir Healy (0-1)
Scotland from: 1 Stuart MacDonald (Lovat) 2 Norman Campbell (Newtonmore) – captain 3 Donald Irvine (Kyles Athletic) 4 John Barr (Glenurquhart) 5 Daniel Cameron (Oban Camanachd) 6 Steven MacDonald (Newtonmore) 7 James Hutchison (Kingussie) 8 Shaun Nicolson (Lochaber) 9 Finlay MacRae (Kinlochshiel) 10 Fraser MacKintosh (Newtonmore) 11 Glen MacKintosh (Newtonmore) 13 Kevin Bartlett (Lovat) 15 Liam MacDonald (Kilmallie) 17 Conor Cormack (Beauly) Subs 12 Callum Cruden (Lovat) 14 Lee Bain (Kingussie) 16 Keith MacRae (Kinlochshiel) 18 John MacRae (Kinlochshiel) 19 Stuart MacKintosh (Glenurquhart) Head Coach – Drew McNeil Assistant Coach – Kenny Ross Assistant Coach – George Hay Trainer – Neil Bowman
Ireland from: 1 Eoin Reilly (Laois) 5. Arron Graffin (Antrim) 17 Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny) 10 Brendan Maher (Tipperary) 4 David English (Carlow) 19 Conor Woods (Down) 15 Darragh O’Connell (Kerry) 18 Eoin Price (Westmeath) 6 Cahir Healy (Laois) 3 Paul Divilly (Kildare) 8 Gareth Johnston (Down) 11 Patrick Maher (Tipperary) 7 Richie Hogan (Kilkenny) 13 Neil McManus (Antrim) (captain) Subs 2 Danny Cullen (Donegal) 9 Jack Cavanagh (Carlow) 12. Kieran McKiernan (Armagh) 14. Derek McNicholas (Westmeath) 20 Neal Mccaulay (Antrim) Manager – Michael Walshe Manager – John Meyler Physio – Diarmuid Horgan
Match Referee – Deek Cameron Umpires – John Angus Gillies, John MacLeod, John Matheson, Eamonn Hassan Linesmen – Archie Ritchie, Callum Girvan, Robert Morrison, Billy MacLeod Fourth Official – Evan MacRae Picture courtesy of www.neilgpaterson.com | |
©Skye Camanachd 2023
