Scotland U21 Head Coach Ronald Ross feels that his players are as well prepared as they can be ahead of the international against Ireland U21 which takes place under the floodlights at St. Josephs Doora Barefield, Ennis on Friday 26 October 2012 with a 7pm throw-in.

“The players have shown great commitment and a really good attitude to the fitness sessions and to the training sessions,” said Ross who is in his first year in charge of the U21 squad. “We have been able to follow the usual training programme in the lead up to this game but we have also had an additional game against Newtonmore which was really useful and we had a practice game again the seniors last Sunday.”

Nothing has been left to chance and Ross added, “The international will take place on Friday evening, under the floodlights so we had a floodlight session in Inverness last Friday to let the boys see just what it would be like playing in these conditions.”

The squad also trained on the Bught Park pitch for a couple of hours following the senior international between Scotland and Ireland.

Ross has named a squad with experience of the cross-code game. He said, “Only one or two of the guys haven’t played before. Guys like Andy MacKintosh from Newtonmore are in the squad for the first time but he played Shinty / Hurling at U17 level and he was very good. Skye’s Shockie MacLennan is the same.”

The Irish always name a strong squad at U21 level and Ross is under no illusions of the challenge his squad faces. “This is a big task, a huge challenge really, but we have prepared very well and we are all looking forward to the game.”  

The 19 man Scotland U21 squad is as follows;

Paul MacKay (Fort William)

Rory Kennedy (Newtonmore) - Captain

Zandz Ferguson (Lochaber)

Shockie MacLennan (Skye Camanachd)

James MacMillan (Oban Camanachd)

Stevie Stewart (Fort William)

Andy MacKintosh (Newtonmore)

Conor Cormack (Beauly)

Garry Lord (Oban Camanachd)

David MacLean (Beauly)

Duncan MacRae (Kinlochshiel)

Martin Johnstone (Lochaber)

Craig Mainland (Lovat)

John MacRae (Kinlochshiel)

Fraser Heath (Glenurquhart)

Ben Delaney (Lochaber)

Neale Reid (Glenurquhart)

Greg Matheson (Lovat)

James Dunn (The SCOTS)

Ronald Ross will be joined on the trip by Assistant Coaches Jason Latto and Scott MacNeil.

2012 Shinty / Hurling / Camogie Programme

Friday 26 October 2012 - Ireland U21 v Scotland U21

The Ireland U21 and Scotland U21 sides meet under the floodlights at St. Josephs Doora Barefield, Ennis on Friday 26 October 2012 with a 7pm throw-in. Admission is free.

Saturday 27 October – Clare v Scotland

The Scotland Womens squad meet a Clare Camogie select at the Father McNamara Camogie Field, County Clare on Saturday 27 October. Throw-in is at 11am and admission is free.

Saturday 27 October 2012 – Ireland v Scotland

The second Shinty / Hurling test between the Ireland and Scotland senior teams takes place at Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday 27 October 2012 with a 2.05pm start. Admission is free.

Photograph courtesy of www.neilgpaterson.com