Lovat quartet head Scotland charge
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LOVAT have four players in the 2014 Scotland squad to face the Irish hurlers in a double header later this month.
The Lovat grouping is the largest from any one club with Newtonmore and Kyles each contributing three players each.
Kingussie star Ronald Ross takes charge of the squad for the first time and he will be assisted by Jim Gow and Ally Ferguson, former managers with Kingussie and Fort William respectively.
But the sight that Scots fans most want to see — that of Ross donning the dark blue jersey one more time — will not be happening.
The star of Kingussie’s recent Camanachd Cup final triumph over Glenurquhart, Ross (39) has shied away from selecting himself as a player in the 21-man squad but given his performance against the Glen, many in the sport will think that as a mistake as the Scots try to halt a six-match losing streak against the Irish.
Instead, Ross will be pinning his scoring hopes on Kyles Athletic striker Roddy MacDonald who makes a rare appearance for the Scots despite being one of the sport’s leading goal-scorers over the past few seasons. MacDonald, at nearly six-foot-five, could be partnered up front by Newtonmore’s Fraser MacKintosh, another giant, as the Scots aim to match the Irish physically.
Ross has opted for a side possessing strength and power following last year’s pummeling from the Irish, with the Scots ending up on the wrong side of a 5-1 hammering.
In the first leg in Ennis, Scotland were left battered and bruised by a powerful Irish side and Ross appears determined that his squad will not be such push overs.
With defensive mainstay Norman Campbell retiring and squad regular Donald Irvine not available Ross has brought in Skye’s Steven Morrison and Kyles’ Calum Miller for their first caps and both will be perfectly capable of matching the Irish physically.
The highly-experienced John Barr from Glenurquhart will almost certainly anchor the defence while the versatile Steven MacDonald from Newtonmore is also likely to be a key player for Ross.
There looks to be plenty of muscle in the Scotland engine room with Lovat’s Calum Cruden and Beauly’s Conor Cormack, both powerful six-footers and expected to be deployed in a defensive-midfield role, alongside Newtonmore’s Paul MacArthur and Kinlochshiel’s Finlay MacRae.
Experience of the composite rules game is all important and shinty players need to be able to adapt to play a game that is in many ways quite different from what they play on a regular Saturday.
For that reason Ross has produced what could prove to be a master-stroke by recalling the battle-scarred duo of Gary Innes and his former Fort William team mate John MacDonald. Both have experienced that winning feeling against the Irish and their familiarity with the cross code rules could prove invaluable.
While the squad is populated by tough characters both physically and mentally, there is also plenty of skill and pace in the squad with the Lovat duo of Kevin Bartlett and Lorne MacKay, who wins his first cap, providing attacking menace.
Bartlett was a scoring sensation two years ago but last year the Irish cut off the supply to reduce his impact on the match.
Bartlett’s team mate Stuart MacDonald is the only
keeper listed in the squad which will be a huge disappointment for Glenurquhart custodian Stuart MacKintosh, who has been a regular in the international scene for the past decade.
Ahead of the two match series Ross said; "I am delighted with the squad we have selected for this year’s International matches.
"We have a skillful, fast and mobile group of players who I am confident will provide a highly competitive match and do their best to secure a first series victory for Scotland."
