Ireland cruise to win in first leg of shinty series

Ireland 1-16 Scotland 2-8

Scotland were over-run at times but a strong final quarter ensured that they are very much in contention as the hurling/shinty series heads to their patch next weekend.

Eoin Kelly was the class act of the day with a five-point display as Ireland cruised to a comfortable enough victory in the opening leg.

The former All-Ireland winning Tipperary captain made light of the heavy rain with a wonderful display and with Eoin Nolan, Joe Bergin and Willie Hyland providing excellent support, and newly-crowned All-Star Michael Rice leading the way as captain, Scotland rarely looked like overturning the hosts.

It was the goals of Gary Innes and Keith McCrae after the resumption that kept the Scots’ dream of victory alive though ahead of next Saturday’s return leg in Inverness.

Kevin Bartlett opened the scoring for the visitors but Kelly got into his stride quickly and made little of the rules that demand you are not allowed handle the ball.

Ireland led by 0-8 to 0-3 at the interval and with Rice, Bergin and Hyland finding their mark soon after the restart, that margin increased. When Nolan goaled in the 52nd minute, the lead was nine points and Joe Dooley’s men were threatening to run riot.

The Scots have always been renowned for their battling qualities though and in the final 18 minutes, they tore into their opponents. Niall McPhee certainly provided inspiration by continuing despite suffering a head injury.

Gary Innes goaled to restore hopes for Dave McNeill’s men. Keith McRae was always a danger for Scotland and he pounced for another major three minutes from the end.

Kelly responded with a point but those two goals ensured that the second test in the Highlands will be a very competitive affair indeed.

Scorers – Ireland: E Kelly 0-5; E Nolan 1-2; J Bergin, W Hyland 0-3 each; E Price 0-2, M Rice 0-1

Scotland: G Innes 1-3; K Bartlett 0-3; K McCrae 1-0; J Stewart 0-2

Ireland: P Mullaney (Laois); J Bergin (Offaly ),K Divilly (Kildare), C Donnelly (Antrim), J Doran (Kildare), A Graffin (Antrim), W Hyland (Laois), E Kelly (Tipperary), D Kennedy (Kildare), D Maguire (Tyrone), B Maher (Tipperary), S Morley (Mayo), T Murnane (Kerry), B Murtagh (Westmeath), E Nolan (Carlow), A O’Brien (Wicklow), E Price (Westmeath), M Rice (Kilkenny)

Scotland: S McIntosh, N Campell, D Irvine, J Barr, R McLeod, N McDonald F McCrae, N McPhee, G Irvine, S Nicholson,S McDonald, G Innes, K McCrae, J McDonald, J Stewart, A Corrigan, D Cameron, K Bartlett, G Stobbart