Ireland dig deep for Shinty-Hurling International win against Scotland

Ireland had to dig deep, as late scores from Kerry’s Shane Nolan and Eoin Price of Westmeath helped them to a two-point win over Scotland in Saturday’s Shinty-Hurling International at Croke Park (2-10 to 2-8).

A Fraser Heath goal helped Scotland to an early 1-2 to 0-1 lead, but Ireland bounced back, with goals from Laois’s Zane Keenan and Patrick ‘Bonnar’ Maher to take a 2-7 to 2-6 interval lead.

Points were at a premium in the second half, with Kevin Bartlett and Derek McNicholas trading scores. Both sides were also guilty of wides, before Nolan and Price stepped up to ensure an Irish win.

Ireland manager Jeff Lynskey said: “Our performance levels were good in the first half. We probably left behind two goals and three or four points and that would have made life a bit easier for us in the second half.

“We had chances, but we just didn’t convert. It was hard won and hard fought. We got the two scores at the end and thankfully we won.”

IRELAND: E Reilly; B Murphy, J Toher; M Burke, M Whelan, D Healy; D McNicholas (0-1), D McInerney, N McAuley (0-1); Z Keenan (1-5), P Maher (1-0), E Price (0-2); TJ Reid, S Nolan (0-1).

Rolling Subs: B Deay, P Divilly, P Kelly, N Ó Muineachain, P McKenna.

SCOTLAND: S MacKintosh; F MacRae, C Millar; S MacDonald (0-2), R Kennedy, L Bain; D Cameron, J Barr, C Cormack; R MacDonald; K Bartlett (1-6), G MacKintosh, L MacDonald; F Heath (1-0).

Rolling Subs: G Irvine, Z Ferguson, N Reid, S Nicolson, P MacArthur.

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).