Mixed results for Ireland in camogie and U21 encounters

Ireland's U21s came out on top in the Hurling/Shinty International at Durrow this afternoon. However, luck was not on the side of their senior camogie counterparts who succumbed to Scotland by a point following a late injury-time goal.

In the first of the day's internationals at the Harps GAA Club in Laois, the Irish Under-21s comfortably accounted for the Scots by 1-10 to 1-00 with Sligo's Keith Raymond providing the hosts' goal midway through the second half.

Ireland were tested in the early stages and a tenth-minute Drew Ferguson goal for Scotland ensured they held an early 1-00 to 0-02 lead.

The Irish side responded with five unanswered points before the interval with top scorer Raymond and home club player Sean Bourke hitting two points each, while Westmeath's Niall Kilcoyne was also on target to ensure a 0-07 to 1-00 interval advantage.

Playing with the aid of a stiff wind in the second half, Scotland promised much with midfielders Mark Lawrie and Grant Irvine causing huge problems in the midfield sector.

But Paudie Butler's charges rose to the mantle again and with a strong defensive display from the likes of Antrim's Barry McFall and man-of-the-match Mark Craig of Derry, coupled with the excellent scoring prowess of Raymond; Wicklow's Eoin Mason and Eoghan Madigan from Mayo, Ireland were not to be denied.

A comfortable 10-point victory was secured with team captain John Rogers from Carlow accepting the cup after the game.

Meanwhile, a 62nd-minute goal from half forward Katie Drain saw Scotland capture their first ever senior Camogie/Shinty International title at Nowlan Park, following a 2-02 to 2-01 victory over Ireland.

It was a game which saw defences on top for the most part, with Scotland leading by 0-02 to 0-00 at half-time thanks to points from Kirsten Munroe and Jane Nicol.

Nonetheless, a goal fest ensued in the second half with Cavan's Margaret McCabe first to find the net, five minutes after the restart.

McCabe's effort was cancelled out three minutes later by a Kirsten Munroe goal, but this was a mere blip on what was a strong Irish second half display.

A 51st-minute goal from Tyrone's Emma McAliskey and a point two minutes later from her county colleague Emma McErlean gave Ireland a two-point lead.

However, Caroline Murray and Jennifer Steede's charges were unable to keep going until the end, with Drain's late goal a sucker punch as Scotland stole a one-point win.