A powerful second half performance saw Ireland U21 defeat Scotland U21 21-10 in the Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling international at the Bught Park on Saturday 2 November 2013.

Scotland U21 Head Coach Ronald Ross was hit hard by injuries ahead of the game and 2012 U21 captain Rory Kennedy and his Newtonmore team-mate Chris Sellar, Kingussie duo Rory Borthwick and Thomas Borthwick, Beauly’s Scott MacLeod and Sandy MacVicar from Kyles Athletic were some of the players who would have been in his thoughts had it not been for some short-term and indeed some longer-term injuries. If that was not bad enough, Newtonmore’s Drew MacDonald, who had been carrying an injury ahead of the game, broke down in the pre-match warm up and Beauly’s Jack MacDonald came off the bench to start in his place. Lovat forward Greg Matheson was given the honour of captaining the Scots.

Jeffrey Lynskey from Galway and Antrim’s Gregory O'Kane took charge of the squad for the second year. They replaced Kilkenny’s Michael Walsh and John Meyler in 2012 when Walsh and Meyler stepped up to look after the Irish senior side. Meath captain James Toher captained the Irish and he played in 2012 when Ireland edged out the Scots in a tight match in Clare. The difference between the sides that day was Clare youngster Tony Kelly who has just been named both Ireland U21 and senior hurler of the year. Kerry’s Bryan Murphy was one of the few other players named with previous shinty / hurling experience having played in Ireland’s winning team in 2011.

Scotland competed well in the first half but they had Oban Camanachd keeper Robert Dunnings to thank for a superb goalkeeping display.

The sides went into the interval on level terms as Oban Celtic’s Gary McKerracher and Greg Matheson each notched two points to leave the match finely poised at Scotland U21 (0-4) 4-4 (0-4) Ireland U21. 

However the older and more powerful Irish side pulled away in the second half,

Galway’s Jason Flynn was a stand-out for Ireland and he notched the first two points of the second period to make it Scotland U21 (0-4) 4-6 (0-6) Ireland U21.

Ireland added another point before they got the game’s opening goal when some great soloing from Westmeath’s Robbie Greville saw him break down the left with Scotland’s Garry Lord from Oban Camanachd in hot pursuit. Greville’s shot squirmed over a diving Robert Dunnings and Mathew Donnelly from Antrim ran in from the right and force the ball over the line to make sure and extend his side’s lead to Scotland U21 (0-4) 4-10 (1-7) Ireland U21.

Scotland found the back of the net when a long ball forward from Newtonmore’s Michael Russell found Kinlochshiel’s Duncan “Ach” MacRae and he drove the ball home.

The visitor’s second goal came when Robert Dunnings saved from Kildare’Declan Flaherty but he was unable to get the ball away and Antrim’s Stephen McAfee capitalised to stroke the ball into the net.

The Scots never let their heads drop though and Newtonmore’s Calum Stewart dispossessed an Irish defender before shooting wide of keeper Paddy McKenna from Kildare to the delight of the home support.

Ireland were not to be denied though and Kerry’s Brian Murphy netted before Jason Flynn ran down the right and he found Offaly’s Stephen Quirke in space and he juggled the ball before slamming it past Dunnings. 

By this time, Jason Flynn, Stephen McAfee, Bryan Murphy, and Stephen Quirke had added single points to the Irish tally whilst Antrim’s Chris McGuinness and Brian Corcoran from Louth added gloss to Ireland’s win with late points to make the final score Scotland U21 (2-4) 10-21 (4-9) Ireland U21.

Ireland captain James Toher was presented with the Marine Harvest Quaich by Marine Harvest Managing Director Alan Sutherland.

Scotland U21 scorers: Gary McKerracher (0-2), Greg Matheson (0-2), Duncan “Ach” MacRae (1-0), Calum Stewart (1-0)

Ireland U21 scorers: Jason Flynn (0-4), Stephen McAfee (1-1), Bryan Murphy (1-1), Stephen Quirke (1-1), Matthew Donnelly (1-0), Chris McGuinness (1-1), Brian Corcoran (0-1)

Scotland U21 from:

1. Robert Dunnings – Oban Camanachd
2. Fraser Heath – Glenurquhart
3. Fraser MacMillan – Glasgow Mid Argyll
4. Gary McKerracher – Oban Celtic
5. Michael Russell – Newtonmore
6. James MacMillan – Oban Camanachd
7. Leighton Reid – Bute
8. Oliver MacRae – Kinlochshiel
9. Garry Lord – Oban Camanachd
10. Calum Stewart – Newtonmore
11. Greg Matheson – Lovat (captain)
12. Drew MacDonald - Newtonmore
13. Duncan “Ach” MacRae - Kinlochshiel
14. Ben Delaney - Lochaber
15. Graeme MacMillan - Lovat
16. Jack MacDonald - Beauly
17. Lewis Tawse - Lovat
18. Michael MacKenzie - Lovat
19. Daniel Madej – Oban Camanachd

Head Coach – Ronald Ross

Assistant Head Coaches – Jason Latto, Fraser Inglis

Physio – Jemma Docker

Ireland U21 from:

1. Paddy McKenna – Kildare
2. Padraig Boyle – Kerry
3. Johnny Byrne – Kildare
4. Ciaran Clarke – Antrim
5. Paul Coady – Carlow
6. Brian Corcoran – Louth
7. Mathew Donnelly – Antrim
8. Declan Flaherty – Kildare
9. Jason Flynn – Galway
10. Robbie Greville – Westmeath
11. Damien Healy – Meath
12. Stephen McAfee – Antrim
13. Christopher McGuinness – Antrim
14. Sean Morrissey – Galway
15. Brian Murphy – Kerry
16. Brendan O’Leary – Kerry
17. Stephen Quirke – Offaly
18. James Toher – Meath (captain)

Head Coaches – Jeffrey Lynskey, Gregory O'Kane

Physio – Diarmuid Horgan

Match Referee – Eamonn Hassan - Derry

Picture courtesy of www.neilgpaterson.com