Maher leads rout as Ireland wrap up series

Ireland 8-11 (51) Scotland 4-3 (23) (Ireland win series 6-2)

Allied to that goal glut was the excellence of home goalkeeper Bernard Rochford, who pulled off a string of stunning saves to deny the Scots on at least six occasions.

Between the seventh and 17th minute the hosts simply cut loose and Tipperary star Patrick Maher kick-started the goal spree before Shane Dooley added a brace, while Brendan Murtagh was another to get on the scoresheet.

Those scores gave Ireland a hefty 24-point half-time lead of 5-6 to 1-2 and the second half, though not as hectic in terms of scores, was merely academic.

Scorers for Ireland: S Dooley 3-3; B Murtagh 2-3; S Callanan 1-4; B McFall 1-1; P Maher 1-0.

Scorers for Scotland: K Bartlett 2-2; Keith MacRae 1-1; Finlay MacRae 1-0.

IRELAND: B Rochford, J Clarke, C Clifford, S Clynch, S Dooley, S Kavanagh, S Fennell, S Callanan, P Maher, N McManus, B McFall, T Murnane, B Murtagh, D O’Connell, E Price, P Reidy, D Shaw, T Walsh, E Reilly.

SCOTLAND: S MacKintosh, N Campbell, J Barr, D Irvine, D Cameron, N MacDonald, F MacRae, N MacPhee, S Nicholson, J Stewart, K MacRae, K Barlett, L Munro, C Cruden, M MacDonald, D Smart, D Howie, Steven MacDonald, Stewart MacDonald.

Referee: Eamon Hassan (Derry).