Ireland hurling-shinty squads announced
The Ireland senior and U-21 squads have been named for this Saturday's Hurling-Shinty international matches at Croke Park and Ratoath respectively.
Ireland senior manager Joe Dooley has a strong panel at his disposal for Saturday's clash with Scotland at Croke Park (throw-in 4.45pm).
Six of the side that guided Ireland to a 2-8 to 1-8 win in Inverness last year are included for this weekend's renewal of rivalries.
Kilkenny's eight-time All-Star Tommy Walsh will again captain the side. Also returning are Offaly's Shane Dooley, John Rowney of Laois, Meath's Stephen Clynch, Gareth Johnston of Down and Armagh's Paul McCormack.
Walsh's Kilkenny team-mate and current All-Star Jackie Tyrrell will be keen to get a taste of the action, while Patrick Horgan of Cork and Willie Hyland of Laois can also expect to play in the hybrid game.
Antrim are strongly represented with three players in the squad, namely Arron Graffin, Neil McManus and Barry McFall, who all lined out for the Ireland U-21s last year. Hurlers from Westmeath, Kerry, Carlow, Wicklow and Kildare complete Dooley's 18-man squad.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny man Michael Walsh returns to manage the Ireland Under-21 side, with Laois' Eoin Reilly named as captain.
Reilly will line out as goalkeeper, and is joined by fellow Laoismen Andrew Collier and Chris Murray in the squad.
2010 All-Star Noel Connors of Waterford is set to feature, as is Antrim senior player Cormac Donnelly.
A total of ten counties are represented in the U-21 squad, with players from Laois, Waterford, Antrim, Fermanagh, Armagh, Kerry, Meath, Carlow, Wicklow and Tyrone gaining selection.
The U-21 Hurling-Shinty international between Ireland and Scotland will take place at 1pm in Sean Eifie Park, Ratoath, County Meath on Saturday, after the corresponding camogie fixture (11.30am).
IRELAND Senior Squad (v Scotland): Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Paul Dermody (Kildare), Stephen Clynch (Meath), Shane Dooley (Offaly), Arron Graffin (Antrim), Willie Hyland (Laois), Gareth Johnston (Down), Darren McCormack (Westmeath), Paul McCormack (Armagh), Barry McFall (Antrim), Patrick Horgan (Cork), Neil McManus (Antrim), Tom Murnane (Kerry), Brendan Murtagh (Westmeath), Eoin Nolan (Carlow), Andrew O'Brien (Wicklow), John Rowney (Laois), Jackie Tyrrell (Kilkenny).
IRELAND Under-21 Squad (v Scotland): Eoin Reilly (Laois), Ryan Bogue (Fermanagh), Andrew Collier (Laois), Nathan Curry (Armagh), Cormac Donnelly (Antrim), Noel Connors (Waterford), David Fitzelle (Kerry), Neil Heffernan (Meath), Eddie Kane (Carlow), Peter Kane (Wicklow), Keith Keoghan (Meath), Kieran McKiernan (Armagh), Shea McKiver (Tyrone), Chris Murray (Laois), Shane Nolan (Kerry), Dara O'Connell (Kerry), Adrian Royle (Kerry), Micheál Ryan (Carlow).
