Senior Hurling / Shinty International (1st Test) – Ireland 1-16 Scotland 2-8 (1st Test)

Ireland cruise to win in first leg of shinty series

From the Breaking News.ie web site

Ireland 1-16 Scotland 2-8

Scotland were over-run at times but a strong final quarter ensured that they are very much in contention as the hurling/shinty series heads to their patch next weekend. Eoin Kelly was the class act of the day with a five-point display as Ireland cruised to a comfortable enough victory in the opening leg. The former All-Ireland winning Tipperary captain made light of the heavy rain with a wonderful display and with Eoin Nolan, Joe Bergin and Willie Hyland providing excellent support, and newly-crowned All-Star Michael Rice leading the way as captain, Scotland rarely looked like overturning the hosts.

It was the goals of Gary Innes and Keith McCrae after the resumption that kept the Scots’ dream of victory alive though ahead of next Saturday’s return leg in Inverness. Kevin Bartlett opened the scoring for the visitors but Kelly got into his stride quickly and made little of the rules that demand you are not allowed handle the ball. Ireland led by 0-8 to 0-3 at the interval and with Rice, Bergin and Hyland finding their mark soon after the restart, that margin increased. When Nolan goaled in the 52nd minute, the lead was nine points and Joe Dooley’s men were threatening to run riot.

The Scots have always been renowned for their battling qualities though and in the final 18 minutes, they tore into their opponents. Niall McPhee certainly provided inspiration by continuing despite suffering a head injury. Gary Innes goaled to restore hopes for Dave McNeill’s men. Keith McRae was always a danger for Scotland and he pounced for another major three minutes from the end. Kelly responded with a point but those two goals ensured that the second test in the Highlands will be a very competitive affair indeed.

Scorers –

Ireland: E Kelly 0-5; E Nolan 1-2; J Bergin, W Hyland 0-3 each; E Price 0-2, M Rice 0-1

Scotland: G Innes 1-3; K Bartlett 0-3; K McCrae 1-0; J Stewart 0-2

Ireland: P Mullaney (Laois); J Bergin (Offaly ),K Divilly (Kildare), C Donnelly (Antrim), J Doran (Kildare), A Graffin (Antrim), W Hyland (Laois), E Kelly (Tipperary), D Kennedy (Kildare), D Maguire (Tyrone), B Maher (Tipperary), S Morley (Mayo), T Murnane (Kerry), B Murtagh (Westmeath), E Nolan (Carlow), A O’Brien (Wicklow), E Price (Westmeath), M Rice (Kilkenny)

Scotland: S McIntosh, N Campell, D Irvine, J Barr, R McLeod, N McDonald F McCrae, N McPhee, G Irvine, S Nicholson,S McDonald, G Innes, K McCrae, J McDonald, J Stewart, A Corrigan, D Cameron, K Bartlett, G Stobbart

Team News

2011 Irish Hurling/Shinty Panels Announced

Joe Dooley (Offaly), Kevin Ryan (Carlow) and Jim McKernan (Antrim), Managers of the Irish Senior Hurling/Shinty team and Michael Walsh (Kilkenny) and John Meyler (Kerry), Managers of Irish U21 Hurling/Shinty team announced their panels today for the 2011 matches between Ireland and Scotland.

The first test of a two-test senior series takes place at 3.00pm in Athy on Saturday next, October 22nd at 3.00pm. The second Hurling/Shinty test takes place in Inverness, Scotland on Saturday, October 29th at 2.00pm. This will be preceded by the U21 game which will take place at 12 noon.

The senior Hurling/Shinty Irish panel is as follows:

1. Patrick Mullaney – Laois (Goalkeeper)

2. Joe Bergin – Offaly

3. Kieran Divilly – Kildare

4. Cormac Donnelly – Antrim

5. John Doran – Kildare

6. Arron Graffin – Antrim

7. Willie Hyland – Laois

8. Eoin Kelly – Tipperary

9. David Kennedy – Kildare

10. Damian Maguire – Tyrone

11. Brendan Maher – Tipperary

12. Shane Morley – Mayo

13. Tom Murnane – Kerry

14. Brendan Murtagh – Westmeath

15. Eoin Nolan – Carlow

16. Andy O’Brien – Wicklow

17. Eoin Price – Westmeath

18. Michael Rice – Kilkenny (Captain)

The U21 Hurling/Shinty panel is as follows:

1. Eoin Reilly -Laois (Goalkeeper)

2. Michael Armstrong -Antrim

3. John Coyne – Roscommon

4. David English – Carlow

5. John Gilligan – Westmeath

6. Conor Grogan -Tyrone

7. Declan Hannon – Limerick

8. Jason Leahy – Kerry

9. Alan McGrath – Westmeath

10. Brian Murphy – Kerry

11. Killian Murphy -Westmeath

12. Shane Nolan -Kerry

13. Darragh O’Connell – Kerry (Captain)

14. Barry O’Mara -Westmeath

15. Eanna O’Neill -Kildare

16. Mick Purcell – Kildare

17. Morgan Quinn – Leitrim

18. Ollie Walsh – Kilkenny