Ross – Scots can prove worth against Ireland
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ALL roads lead to the Bught Park in Inverness on Saturday where Kinlochshiel’s Finlay MacRae will lead Scotland into battle against Ireland in the first test of the Marine Harvest shinty/hurling series.
Coming at the end of the National Mod Gaelic cultural festival being held in the Highland capital, the Camanachd Association is hoping the attendance will be swelled by the influx of visitors to the city.
Ronald Ross, a striker many would have liked to see wear the dark blue of Scotland on more occasions during his illustrious career as a player, takes on the role of head coach of the national team. His assistant coaches are Kingussie team-mate Jimmy Gow and ex-Scotland and Fort William boss Ally Ferguson.
Ross’s highly experienced backbone to the squad includes John Barr, captain Finlay MacRae, Shaun Nicolson and the recalled duo of Gary Innes and John MacDonald, all well versed in the cross-code game. Add to that defenders Callum Cruden and Steven MacDonald, midfielder Conor Cormack and livewire striker Kevin Bartlett, and you have a band of players who have all featured regularly in the international series in recent years.
Stuart MacDonald is the only keeper in the 19-man squad, and the Lovat custodian is another who has chalked up frequent international appearances. Ten of the squad retain their places from last year’s series. The addition of Kyles Athletic hitman Roddy MacDonald will bring potency to the Scotland attack.
Three players enter the international fold for the first time – defenders Calum Miller (Kyles Athletic) and Steven Morrison (Skye), plus Lovat forward Lorne MacKay.
Speaking of his selection, Ross said: "What we have is, I hope, a fresh, youthful and hungry team. For me everyone has something to prove and that is vitally important. I know that from playing in these matches myself. Results have not gone our way in recent times and we know the size of the task ahead, with Ireland being very strong. We also know they will run all day.
"However, the players have been made aware that this is a stage for them to go out and prove to everyone just how good they are."
Irish manager Michael Walshe has again assembled a squad drawn from the three tiers of hurling with three of his top level hurlers being amongst the 45 nominees for the 2014 GAA GPA All-Star Hurling team.
These players are Cork full forward Patrick Horgan, Tipperary half forward Patrick Maher and newcomer to the international scene, half forward Conor Lehane, also of Cork.
Horgan is well known to the Scots after firing 22 of Ireland’s points in a 3-10 to 2-9 win at The Bught two years ago.
Another new cap, All Ireland winner and GAA All- Star David McInerney of Clare is the fourth top level hurler included.
Since the two-test format began in 2010, Ireland has come on top in all four series, winning seven out of eight tests.
Scotland’s one and only triumph, and their last victory over the Irish, was by a single point in the first test in 2010 winning by a 2-16 (22) to 2-15 (21) point margin.
Prior to this, Scotland had competed well in the annual single test clash and were victorious four years on the trot before losing 2-8 (14)-1-8 (11) in Inverness in 2009.
Last year, Ireland outgunned Scotland in both tests, winning 4-12 (24) to 2-12 (18) at Croke Park, Dublin, followed up by a 1-15 (18) to 0-14 (14) victory in Inverness.
Saturday’s match starts at 2pm and BBC2 Scotland will broadcast the first test live.
A week later, on Saturday, the teams meet in the second test at Pairc Esler in Newry, Northern Ireland. That clash has a 5pm throw- in and will be covered live by BBC Alba. Also in Newry on the same day, Scotland under-21s and Ireland under-21s meet in their shinty/hurling international which has a 3pm start. Preceding this at 1pm will be a shinty/camogie challenge between Scotland’s senior women and a County Down select.
