Lovat goalkeeper is right man to captain Scotland shinty squad
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SCOTLAND manager Garry Reid says Lovat goalkeeper Stuart MacDonald is the perfect choice as captain to lead them against Ireland.
MacDonald was announced as Scottish captain for the shinty hurling international series in Dublin tomorrow.
Reid is 100 per cent positive he can lead Scotland to glory.
“Stuart has been one of the game’s most consistent performers, who leads by example on and off the pitch,” he said.
“Stuart has been part of the international squad over the past eight years and his experience and calmness around the squad are invaluable.
“He deserves this moment of recognition and I’m sure he will take great pride in leading out his nation on Saturday.”
MacDonald was surprised when Reid called him to wear the captain’s armband.
“It is a huge honour just to be selected to play and then to become captain is really something I did not expect.
“But I am really looking forward to the game - it is going to be tough and I suspect they will want to avenge last year’s defeat.
“But we have an experienced squad who know how to play the game and hopefully we can catch them cold in the first half.
“Then hold out when they will definitely come back hard in the second half.”
MacDonald is one of five Lovat players who has been selected in the 20-man squad.
Reid has selected a powerful side particularly in midfield, an area of the field where the hurlers have traditionally excelled. The Lovat duo of Craig Mainland and Fraser Heath have been selected for their physicality and athleticism and Reid will be hopeful that Newtonmore’s Steve MacDonald will be fit in time with his long hitting a real asset last year.
The Caberfeidh strike force of Kevin Bartlett and Craig Morrison will produce the firepower along with Lovat’s Greg Matheson.
There is also an under-21 match and manager Alan MacRae has handed the captain’s armband to Kingussie’s Calum Grant.
Beauly fullback Andrew Morrison wins his first cap and Lovat’s Danny Kelly and Glenurquhart’s Lachie Smith are also in the squad. The Scots produced a rare victory at this level in 2018 and the indications in 2019 are that Ireland have picked a strong squad as they seek their revenge.
