Scotland boss eyes triumph over Irish
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SCOTLAND manager Drew McNeil leads his team in to Saturday's Bught Park shinty/hurling showdown against Ireland hoping to take an advantage over to Ireland in seven days time.
This will be McNeil's third series at the helm, with the Glenurquhart co-boss yet to experience a series victory in his capacity as head coach, although in his first match in charge in 2010, Scotland registered an historic 22-21 win at Croke Park.
In the return leg at the Bught, the Scots went down 21-16 to a Shane Dooley-inspired Ireland, the Offaly hit-man netting three goals plus a point to win the series for his country.
Last year both games went Ireland's way, the Irish winning 19-14 in Athy, Co Kildare, followed by a 15-14 victory in Inverness.
This year sees a major change to the match scoring system. Five points will be awarded for a goal as opposed to three.
The points system in operation to determine the series winner sees two points awarded for a victory with a bonus point being granted if two or more goals are scored. Aggregate points scored on the field of play only come in to the reckoning if the countries finish level on points earned for victory and goals scored.
The senior series will again be played on a home and away basis, with the opening game in Inverness followed a week later with the second leg at Cusack Park, Ennis, a week on Saturday.
McNeil has gone for experience in his squad selection with 12 of the 19-man squad retaining their places from last year. Kilmallie striker John Stewart is a late addition to the squad, replacing Kyles ace Roddy MacDonald, who is unavailable. Kinlochshiel defender Mark MacDonald and Lovat duo Callum Cruden and Drew Howie step up from the under-21 squad, whilst Lovat goalkeeper Stuart MacDonald and Newtonmore's Steven MacDonald, who both featured in the 2010 under-21s, make their return to the international scene.
New caps are handed to Glenurquhart forward David Smart and Kingussie midfielder Louis Munro. Newtonmore full-back Norman Campbell, who holds a record 17 international caps, captains the side.
Ireland will be managed by Kilkenny's Michael Walsh and Wexford's John Meyler, who take over from Offaly boss Joe Dooley and selectors Kevin Ryan (Carlow) and Jim McKernan (Down).
Walsh and Meyler are no strangers to the cross-code game, having managed Ireland's under-21s last year at the Bught, with Meyler was involved with the under-21s in 2010.
The Irish hurling squads were selected on the basis of two trial games with the selection policy being to ensure representation from the developing counties whilst also providing these players with the opportunity to play alongside a small group of players drawn from Tier One counties.
Whilst Ireland's squad this year includes 11 players who play top tier hurling in the All Ireland Championship for the Liam McCarthy Cup, only three of these play for counties considered to be at the top level.
These players are Kilkenny's star Tommy Walsh, who returns to the international hybrid game after missing out last year, and Cork duo Patrick Horgan, who also returns after a year's absence, and Shane O'Neill.
Only four of the squad – skipper Eoin Price (Westmeath), defenders Cormac Donnelly (Antrim) and Tom Murname (Kerry) and Westmeath forward Brendan Murtagh – featured in last year's senior international series, whilst Kerry striker Darragh O'Connell is promoted from the under-21s.
The match, which will be broadcast live on BBC2 Scotland, has a 1.15pm throw-in.
* Preceding the senior international at Cusack Park is the under-21 clash between Scotland and Ireland under floodlights next Friday at 7pm at St Joseph's Doora Barefield, Ennis.
Scotland's women are also in action next weekend in Ireland in a shinty/camogie international against the Clare camogie team at Father McNamara Park, Ennis, on Saturday at 11am.
The full Scotland squad is: Kevin Bartlett (Caberfeidh), Niall MacPhee (Fort William), John Barr (Glenurquhart), Stuart MacKintosh (Glenurquhart), David Smart (Glenurquhart), Louis Munro (Kingussie), Mark MacDonald (Kinlochshiel), Finlay MacRae (Kinlochshiel), Keith MacRae (Kinlochshiel), Donald Irvine (Kyles Athletic), Neil MacDonald (Lochaber), Shaun Nicolson (Lochaber), Callum Cruden (Lovat), Drew Howie (Lovat), Stuart MacDonald (Lovat), Norman Campbell (Newtonmore), Steven MacDonald (Newtonmore), John Stewart (Kilmallie) and Daniel Cameron (Oban Camanachd).
