Ireland v Scotland, Cusack Park, 3.30pm
Having marked its post-Covid return with an Irish victory in Newry last year, the shinty-hurling international makes its way to Cusack Park this afternoon with Scotland aiming to regain control of a competition they have really dominated in recent times.
Last year's Mowi Quaich success – when goalkeeper Enda Rowland, Neil McManus and Peter Duggan caught the eye – had been Ireland’s first win since 2014 when the return leg was also held in Newry.
That was the sixth leg of a six in-a-row for Ireland, but Scotland have won five of the last six as the game moved from a traditional two-game series to a one-match contest.
The hosts are jointly managed by Kilkenny’s Michael Kavanagh, a former player and selector in the series, and Terence McNaughton, who could maybe land a sliothar in Scotland from his Cushendall home if the wind was behind him.
Eleven counties are represented in all with six returnees from last year – 2024 captain Rowland (Laois), Luca McCusker (Fermanagh), James Toher (Meath), Eoghan Cahill (Offaly), Ben Conneely (Offaly) and Caolan Taggart (Down). The latter was a late withdrawal from playing duties last year as it fell on the same weekend as Portaferry’s Down final, his side winning at the same venue the very next day, but 'CT’ remained with the Irish squad and is one of the more experienced members of the panel having also been there in 2019.
Kilkenny pair Eoin Cody and Martin Keoghan, Limerick’s Dan and Tom Morrissey and hometown man Aidan McCarthy are some of the star names that will be operating in Clare.
Scotland too have brought some of their big-name players over.
When it comes to famous Roberts who play shinty, you can’t beat world No 16 ranked golfer Robert MacIntrye who still plays casually, but in full-back and captain Robert Mabon, Scotland have a hell of a player.
He was the 2023 Mowi national player of the year and manager Garry Reid will also be looking to the likes of Ruaridh Anderson, one of their goal-scorers last year, and target man Blair Morrison to lead the line while regular goalkeeper Stuart McDonald has recovered from a cracked rib to declare himself fit for battle.
For McDonald’s opposite Rowland, it will be a very proud day having taken over the captaincy from McManus.
"I had a missed call from Mick Kavanagh and I was like ‘what’s this now’ and when he said it to me sure you’re smiling from ear to ear, it was a job trying to keep it calm.
"It’s an opportunity that you’d be crazy not to take on. Yes, there’s more to it than being captain, it’s about the team winning, but the plan is Ireland win and getting to lift that cup in an Irish jersey, it’s the only chance as a hurler you get to play for your country.
"It might be a once-off game and called an exhibition game, but I can guarantee you both teams are taking it seriously."
MacIntyre’s love of the game isn’t a surprise to someone like Rowland, a keen golfer whose skills for the composite game – such as puckouts off the tee – have been honed on the driving range as well as the hurling field.
"I play a lot of golf, it’d be my second sport.
"It actually does help with the puckouts. Off the tees is different, I suppose the one thing you’re coached in hurling is to get the ball in your hand as quickly as you can and it’s the one thing you can’t do in this game.
"It can improve your hurling too and it makes you aware of your surroundings. It's different but you'd be surprised what it does for your hurling game too – you're getting stuck in.
"The Scots, they’re raw, you stand half a yard out and you’re getting opened up so it’s get in or get out.
"You look at some the best hurling games you’re seeing on telly, it’s lads getting stuck in, hopping off each other, and it’s probably something that’s gone out of the game a bit. I can assure you, it’s in this game."
For Rowland, ‘rules’ is the buzzword running through his mind right now. Whether that’s watching the experimental football interprovincials at Croke Park last week or the adjustments for the visit of Scotland.
So, does hurling need any major surgery?
"It’s hard to know," said the Laois man.
"II think the game of hurling is in a healthy place, I’d be of the opinion of don’t fix what’s not broken.
"It’s an unbelievable game; yes it’s never going to be perfect because the game is getting faster. People are giving out about the ball travelling but I think it’s players getting bigger, fitter, stronger, the game is probably more professional based for an amateur game than what has been in the last number of years.
"That's the way GAA is going and whether that’s a good or a bad thing is probably for other people to discuss.
"Honestly I don’t think much has to change with hurling."
IRELAND SQUAD
Enda Rowland (Laois), Luca McCusker (Fermanagh), Eoghan Cahill (Offaly), Caolan Taggart (Down), Eoin Cody (Kilkenny), Ben Conneely (Offaly), Stephen McBride (Donegal), Cian Darcy (Longford), Cianan Fahy (Galway), Martin Keoghan (Kilkenny), Tomás Keyes (Laois), Dan Morrissey (Limerick), Tom Morrissey (Limerick), Killian Sampson (Offaly), Jason Sampson (Offaly), Daithí Sands (Down), James Toher (Meath), Gerard Walsh (Antrim), Aidan McCarthy (Clare), Shane Meehan (Clare)
SCOTLAND SQUAD
Alexander Michie, Andrew Macdonald, Ben Delaney, Blair Morrison, Cameron Sutherland, Conor Cormack, Craig Mainland, Craig Morrison, Daniel MacVicar, Danny Kelly, Donald Nixon, Finlay MacRae, John Gillies, Kevin Bartlett, Lachie Shaw, Robert Mabon, Roddy Macdonald, Ruaridh Anderson, Steven Macdonald, Stuart MacDonald
