The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Nicolson is seeking net gain in showdown at Croke Park
Lochaber player targeting three-point goal against Ireland
Shaun Nicolson has proved adept at racking up points over the bar at Croke Park, Dublin but the Lochaber livewire would love to put the ball in the net against the Irish in Saturday’s shinty- hurling international.
The 29-year-old self-employed joiner from Fort Augustus was outstanding in midfield when the Scots lost narrowly on their last visit to Dublin two years ago. He said: “I formed a good partnership with Beauly’s Conor Cormack in the centre line last time, making it the away game I’ve most enjoyed.
“I managed to convert several points over the bar that day when, although we lost, our team played extremely well.
“But scoring a threepoint goal at Croke Park is on my ‘bucket list’ and this weekend would be the ideal time.
“Ireland will have the benefit of strong support at Croke Park, with anything up to 20,000 to 30,000 supporters watching the latter stages of our game as they wait for the 80,000 sellout Gaelic football-Aussie rules match against Australia which follows.
“The fact that it’s such an excellent playing surface will actually suit us and our strategy of keeping possessions and playing the ball up the wings to stretch them.”
Nicolson, who will be making his 12 th senioralso has three under-21 caps, is extremely wary-of-all-star hurler of the year TJ Reid, whom the Irish have drafted in after their defeat at Inverness last month and whose presence will help swell the crowd.
“We’ve been looking at videos of Reid and he’s certainly some machine,” said Shaun.
“He looks exceptional. He knows how to score goals and he’s been their top hurler for three years. It’s clear they’ve made up their mind to make life more difficult for us this time.
“Reid’s a new name to these matches and so is Maurice Shanahan, of Waterford, another highly rated forward, who will also be making his debut. They are needle-sharp but our defence is capable of dealing with them.
“Ireland have won most of the games in recent years because they’re more physical than us, but this time we matched them in that department in Inverness. On the big Croke pitch we need to man-mark closely but they all wear helmets so it can sometimes be difficult in the thick of things to recognise which one you are supposed to mark.”
Nicolson was with Glengarry as a youngster until moving to Lochaber.
He said: “I wasn’t getting a game at Glengarry but I made my first team debut for Lochaber at 14 and it’s proved a good move. We’ve had a much better season this year, finishing fourth top and Ally Ferguson, now Scotland assistant coach, has made a difference as club manager.
“I missed a chunk of the season with a broken thumb but it was nice to have a campaign without flirting with relegation. Now this game is a great way to end my season.”
Nicolson’s experience at this level will be a big help to the men in blue who have never won two games in the same year since the double-header series began in 2010. Last year the Scots won32-14 at Inverness only to be thumped 24-8 in the return match in Newry.
Sean added: “The habit has been that Ireland play the game in the air and we play it on the ground. Butin the past couple of years the Irish have progressed and have become able to strike the ball off the ground much better. Indeed, one or two of their lads can hit a longer ball off the ground than our players.
“That’s the value of these internationals. We each learn things that we can transfer to our own game. But it will be a real milestone if we can win on Saturday, and I think we’ve the right blend of skill and strength to complete the double.”
“They’re more physical than us, but this time we matched them” “Ireland play the game in the air and we play it on the ground”