The Shinty Preview – Saturday 27 October 2012 | |
25 October 2012 The Shinty / Hurling / Camogie / internationals take place in County Clare this weekend with the main event being the second test between Scotland and Ireland at Cusack Park on 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. Ireland take a 3-1 series into the game courtesy of two points for their 25-19 win at the Bught Park, Inverness last weekend with both sides gaining a point for scoring at least two goals. However the Irish will be without Cork’s Patrick Horgan who put in a man of the match performance in the first test, scoring all but two of Ireland’s points. Ireland co-managers Michael Walsh and John Meyler have called up Tipperary centre forward Seamus Callanan as a replacement. Scotland Head Coach Drew McNeil reports a clean bill of health. However he may be tempted to tinker with his starting line-up with Newtonmore’s Norman Campbell likely to start in defence rather than midfield. Kinlochshiel’s Mark MacDonald impressed following his substitute appearance and could earn a place in the starting line-up. Donald Irvine had been a doubt because of work commitments but he has been able to make alternative arrangements which allow him to travel with the party. Throw-in is at 2.05pm and the whole match will be broadcast live by BBC Alba from 2pm.
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. This is the first match in charge of the Scottish colts for former senior international Ronald Ross. However he has led the Scots at U17 level for many years so he will be very familiar with most of the players included in the current squad. Newtonmore’s Rory Kennedy captain’s the side and he will be a key player as will his Newtonmore club-mate Andy MacKintosh at the back. The attack includes Glenurquhart’s Neale Reid who scored twice in his club side’s 6-0 Artemis Macaulay Cup Final win over Oban Camanachd this season. Lovat’s Greg Matheson was named 2012 Marine Harvest Player of the Year last week and he was also the top goal scorer in the 2012 Orion Group Premiership. However Ross knows that Ireland will be formidable opponents. Their panel includes Clare defender Seadna Morey who was named 2012 “Breaking Through Player” and Kilkenny U21 start Ollie Walsh who has won medals at Leinster minor level and All-Ireland minor level. He comes from a great hurling family. His father is former Kilkenny keeper and senior Scotland boss Michael Walsh and his grandfather was the late Ollie Walsh, a legendary Kilkenny keeper. Ollie Walsh junior is a more attacking player though and he was on the 2011 U21 Irish panel and has been on the Kilkenny U21 panel since 2009. Kerry centre forward Shane Nolan captains the squad and he was part of the 2012 Munster squad. Niall Kilroy is also included and he currently plays U16 hurling for Roscommon. Throw-in is at 7pm.
Clare v Scotland The Scotland Women’s squad meet a Clare Camogie select at the Father McNamara Camogie Field, County Clare on Saturday 27 October. Scotland co-managers Sarah Corrigall and Laura MacKay have named a strong squad which will be captained by Glasgow Mid Argyll’s Katie Drain. Laura Gallacher, who plays for Lovat in Marine Harvest North Division 2 and for Glengarry in WCA Marine Harvest North Division 1, and she scored 13 points, including four goals, in Scotland’s 27-3 win over the British University hurlers at the Bught Park last year. Skye Camanachd’s Lorna MacRae is included for the first time and she was named WCA Marine Harvest North Division 2 Player of the Year last year. Claire are sure to provide tough opposition for the Scots as their senior side recently won the Munster title for the first time in 66 years. Clare will be managed by Catherine O’Loughlin and selectors Noel McInerney from Newmarket-on-Fergus and Éire Óg’s Niall Malone. The Clare County Board is planning to showcase Camogie at this game and Irish President Michael D Higgins will be in attendance as will Camogie President Aileen Lawlor. An invitation was issued to all Camogie clubs to attend and there will be a display of club flags around the pitch. Following the match, around 1,000 Camogie players, including youth representation from all clubs, will take part in an impressive parade through the town on Ennis, before arriving at Cusack Park ahead of the men’s senior Shinty / Hurling international. Throw-in is at 11am.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Aberdeen University v Glenurquhart Aberdeen University and Glenurquhart meet in the Granite City in the final Marine Harvest North Division 2 match of the season. This is the third attempt to play this fixture in recent weeks. Aberdeen University have not played since they beat Skye Camanachd 5-1 on Saturday 11 August 2012 whilst Glenurquhart drew 1-1 with Kingussie last weekend. Calum Smith serves the second game of a two match ban for the visitors. |