The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Ross ponders Scotland future
Scotland manager Ronald Ross will take his time before deciding if he will continue his successful spell in charge.
The Kingussie man was delighted with his third successive home international win and if he does opt to step down, the Camanachd Association will have a tough task replacing him.
His extensive coaching background helps Ross to plot games and there will be pressure on him to stay on. But he said: “I’ve not committed myself. We’ll wait and see.”
Fitness was a key to the Scots standing firm in the second half and Ross said: “The players deserve great credit.
“They were playing for their clubs on Saturdays and then training with us on Sundays. It’s a big com- mitment but they reaped the benefit. We got the job done, helped by Ireland missing so many chances.
“And we had Kevin Bartlett banging them over. By closing them down, and denying them space to create chances, our defence did a superb job. But they all put in a good shift.”
Ross also paid tribute to his backroomteamof assistant manager Ally Ferguson, forwards coach Kevin Thain and trainer Neil Bowman.
Scotland’s under- 21s closed a 10-point gap to three points with 10 minutes to go, only for Ireland to then cut loose.
Themenin greenwonby four goals and 18 points for a30-point total to thehome team’s two goals and 11 points for a 17-point haul.
Skye’s Will Cowie marked his international debut with Scotland’s first goal then Inverness player Charlie Macdonald did the same.
Caberfeidh’s Craig Morrison top scored for the Scots with eight points, while Lovat’s Danny Kelly converted a two-pointer and Nick Dalgety, of Lochcarron, added the other point.
With 13 new caps, the Scotland performance encouraged manager Allan MacRae as the bulk of this team will be eligible for next year.
Roma Fraser,14, became the youngest to play for Scotland’s women’s team when the daughter of Kingussie player Rory came on as substitute in their 12-3 defeat by Dublin County. Jeannett MacGregor, of Badenoch and Strathspey, scored the Scotland points.