Caman performance
Scots get the better of Irish with strong defence to retain international bragging rights. Stewart Weir reports
SCOTLAND retained the Marine Harvest Quaich in Inverness yesterday with a hard-fought 14-5 win against Ireland in the annual shinty/hurling international.
Sport may be all about winning for those competing, but for broadcasters, TV viewers and spectators it has to be about entertainment as well. That was in small measure in this encounter.
One shouldn’t be too critical though. As a hybrid sporting contest, between two codes with different rules, and very different resources, it is ever-evolving. The hurlers, on the face of it, appeared to be more handicapped, unable to handle or catch the ball and unwilling to unleash their stick superstars on their wholly amateur neighbours.
Scotland coach Ronald Ross, however, was simply delighted with another win. “This is the only chance these boys get to represent Scotland so it means everything to them, and me, to win it,” he said, proving equally adept as a coach as he was with caman in hand.
“There weren’t any goals, which is a bit disappointing given the level and ability of the forwards on both sides. But defensively we were outstanding right across the back.”
It may also have had a lot to do with Ross being ahead of the opposition, both tactically and in man-management.
Earlier, the Irish women, represented by the Dublin County Camogie Select, had beaten their hosts 12-2, while Ireland also took the spoils in the men’s Under-21 tie, so Ross needed a big performance from his side to avoid an Irish clean sweep. By the time came for the throw-in for the main event, conditions were near perfect, the massive playing Bught Park surface flanked by a healthy crowd.
An early Irish foul allowed Kevin Bartlett to send a free over the bar for two points. “How many do we get for that?” asked an inquisitive spectator. He would ask the same question several times more during the afternoon.
The Scots led 4-2, Bartlett again putting the hosts ahead after Chad Dwyer had brought the Irish level with a couple of single contributions.
Bartlett had a free tipped over, then Roddy MacDonald grabbed another point from open play as the Scots took virtually every opportunity presented to them, especially the prolific Bartlett.
The Lovat man produced a couple of free hits that would have been more at home a few miles along the road at Castle Stuart when the European Tour visits these parts, either side of Shane Dooley’s point for the Irish, bullying Player of the Year Finlay MacRae to work the space before drilling over from an acute angle.
Ireland’s stick skills were a sight to behold at times, but they still could not rally themselves sufficiently, despite trying a few slightly dubious tactics to fire themselves up. Michael Breen’s lump of ash first connected with the face of Daniel Cameron, before Breen lashed out with a kick at Fraser Heath.
Scotland led 10-3 at half-time. Referee Innes Wood changed his shirt at the turnaround, swapping from black to yellow. Maybe the Irish were identifying him as another Scotland player, not that his adjudication could ever be called in to question.
To be fair, when Ireland were penalised it was justified. Time and again they clattered into the back of their opponents, who were becoming quite adept at drawing such fouls, which Bartlett kept putting over.
While Mickey Boyle added another Irish point to make it 12-4, the GAA select found Stuart MacDonald, the Lovat keeper, in inspired form between the sticks. They also lacked any guile or cutting edge, elements lost when the McGrath brothers John and Noel ruled themselves out of this trip late in the day.
Bartlett ended the day with 13 points, his final scoring effort coming in the 66th minute, but still he didn’t get the biggest cheer of the day.
No, that belonged to Ireland’s captain, goalkeeper Eoin Reilly, the Laois man’s frustration causing him to gather the ball on his stick, then race out of his goal and a further 50 yards downfield.
It was all a little too much far too late, just like Michael Boyle’s consolation hit for Ireland.