Mowi Shinty-Camogie International

Scotland (2-0) 6-18 (5-3) Ireland

Ireland showed their class in the second half to win 18-6 over Scotland in the Mowi shinty-camogie international at the Bught Park, Inverness.

A healthy attendance watched on as this noon throw-in got underway and Ireland built an early 4-0 lead when Amy Quinlisk’s ball over the bar was followed by a goal from skipper Saoirse McCarthy.

However, Scotland struck back to edge in front. First, a dead ball from Megan Ralph dropped into the D, deceiving Irish keeper Aoife Corcoran and ending up in the net before Beth MacLellan was first to react when the goalie didn’t deal with Zoe Reid’s low ball from the left and she made it 6-4

The impressive Saoirse McCarthy struck again with her second goal before the interval to give Ireland a slender 7-6 advantage.

Ireland had the elements in the second half and following a ’65 into the goal area from Saoirse McCarthy, Amy Quinlisk scored a goal to make it 10-6

Saoirse McCarthy completed her hat-trick as she turned her marker before soloing towards goal and she steadied herself before hammering the ball home for a great finish.

The Scots tried to get back into it and just before the hour, Megan Ralph struck wide from a free just in front of the stand, wide on the right wide. Soon after, Rona Stewart’s sideline cut troubled the Irish defence and Megan Ralph tried to shoot before Rhona McIntyre sent the ball past the post.

Saoirse McCarthey then flicked a free, before sending it over the bar and the point made it 14-6.

Ireland continued to add to their tally and Sive Bryne gathered a loose ball before heading goalwards and lifting the ball over the bar.

Scotland keeper Joanne Gillanders made some terrific saves throughout, and she denied Aine Cunnigham from point-blank range.

Meadbh McLoughlin completed the scoring when she bundled the ball home at the death to seal Ireland’s 18-6 win.

Ireland captain Saoirse McCarthy, later named player of the match, received the Mowi Quaich from Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Mowi COO Ben Hadfield at the end of the game.

New Scotland manager Ross Brown took time out to look back on the game. He said: “The whole coaching team are really pleased with the Scottish performance. All the girls did really, really well and they dug in when they had to.

“Going into the match, we knew we probably weren’t going to be as fit and as match conditioned as the Irish and that proved to be the case. We were probably out on our feet during the final 20 minutes, and they pulled away. I thought we battled really well in the first half and were only a point behind at the break but their speed and conditioning in the second half took the game away from us.

“We’ve picked up a lot from the game though and there are things we will work on ahead of next year’s international.”

Scotland from: Alaina MacLennan (Kinlochshiel), Ali MacVicar (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Amy Disher (Lochaber), Beth MacLellan (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Caitlin Maclean (Skye Camanachd, Christina Macdonald (Skye Camanachd), Hannah Macdonald (Lochaber), Hazel Hunter (Glenurquhart), Joanne Gillanders (Lochaber), Kira Macdonald (Lochaber), Kirsty Deans (Badenoch), Lexy MacLeod (Skye Camanachd), Mairi Duncan (Lochaber – captain), Mairi Stewart (Badenoch), Megan Ralph (Badenoch), Natalie Macdonald (Lochaber), Rachel McCafferty (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Rhona McIntyre (Badenoch), Rona Stewart (Badenoch), Zoe Reid (Badenoch)

Ireland from: Aoife Corcoran (Westmeath), Fiona Keating (Westmeath), Aoife McDonald (Tyrone), Shannagh Heggarty (Antrim), Gráinne McDonald (Tyrone), Sive Byrne (Wicklow), Casey Kelly (Wicklow), Saoirse McCarthy (Cork – captain), Áine Cunningham (Tyrone), Tara Naughton (Roscommon), Sally Bolger (Roscommon), Dearbhla Magee (Down), Katierose Bell (Antrim), Ashling Thompson (Cork), Amy Cousins (Wexford), Dearbhail McLoughlin (Westmeath), Meadbh McLoughlin (Westmeath), Amy Quinlisk (Tipperary), Aisling Hagan (Tyrone)

Match Referee – Calum Girvan