2016: Scotland v Ireland Shinty Hurling International


2016: Scotland v Ireland

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This is what the sides are playing for this afternoon, it is Sinn T

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versus hurling, Scotland against Ireland in a truly unique sporting

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event. The winner takes all match in a truly unique sporting

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confrontation with Scotland looking to make it a hat-trick of victories.

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Stand-by, I hope you are sitting comfortably.

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What a strike. You could see that coming. Scotland hoping to make it a

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hat-trick of victories over the Irish this afternoon, it is the

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shinty reach hurling final here in Inverness. It is glorious here this

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afternoon, the sun has come out. Hard to believe it is October but it

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is time for the shinty hurling international and a beautiful day in

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Inverness. Shinty against hurling, it does seem a bit baffling, we will

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get the three Wise men of shinty to guide us this afternoon. Former

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Scotland international is, welcome to you all. Fraser, I will start

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with you, shinty versus hurling, if someone has not heard of this

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before, it does sound slightly crazy. Ella macro it does, but I

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think the rules are there to be the best of both sports. We have had

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good matches in the last couple of use and we hope to have more today.

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Eddie, you have represented Scotland in the past, it is a proud occasion

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to be Scotland players. In terms of the cream of the crop in shinty, it

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is your own chance to represent your country. The sense of pride is

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enormous, you only have one chance in the whole season to play this

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game. To get selected above other players and put in the hard work and

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the training, it boils down to this. Gary, you represented Scotland many

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times, how is it for you? Talk about the intensity of this game? Two

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different codes against each other, that must be challenging? It can be.

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This game doesn't suit a lot of shinty players but with the rule

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changes of the last couple of years it is coming through and it is

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suiting a lot more shinty players than in the past. It is their only

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chance to get together and represent their club and country in this

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sport. It is a great occasion. One of the great names of shinty is

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Ronald Ross, he is the man who is now in charge of the Scotland team.

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The short time ago he spoke to our reporter. It is a beautiful day here

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in Inverness, how much are you looking forward to getting the game

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started? The preparation is done now, the coaches are desperate for

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it to start, we have done the hard work, it is a case of getting going.

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With it being a one-off match this year, does that suit you? Yes. Over

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two legs, they become stronger, the first game is our best chance.

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They're not allowed to kick the ball or handle also it takes some time to

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get used to that. Asked experience has shown that over two games it is

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difficult to beat them. We pushed them last year in the state game at

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Croke Park. How do you like the make-up of your squad? We need a bit

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of experience as well. The boys that have come in have played really well

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for their clubs. It is competition in all departments, that is

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important. Thank you for your time. There are the Scotland players this

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afternoon, warming up. Fraser, Ronald Ross is a name so synonymous

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with shinty, a bit of greatest player of all-time, much of an

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impact does that have on the Scotland players? It is a special

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honour to be selected by Ronald, the greatest player there has ever been.

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He has played against many of these guys so for him to say that you are

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good enough to play in his team, it will give them a lot of pride. Good

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continuity this year because he has a good group of players together and

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got them into a good system. Some key players on display for Scotland

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this afternoon. Kevin Bartlett, he has been hugely good for Scotland in

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recent years? Here we see him doing what he does best, a fantastic goal

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and he practices this and has scored more points for Scotland than any

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player in history. This is where Scotland will make most of the

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points today, from his threes if he is on form. If Ireland flick trying

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to minister to two points and one point, but it is where Scotland will

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look to pick up their most points. He is a key player for driving and

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keeping the scoreboard ticking over. That is what you need to do and he

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will be their danger man today. Let us hope he puts plenty of points on

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the board this afternoon. You are interested in seeing Glenn Maxwell

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.com are significant for his club side but also the national team. We

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saw him last month getting the only goal in the cup final. He holds the

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ball up and what he wants to do is shoot and put it in the back of the

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net but it will be important for Scotland to supply him with the ball

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today and let him do what he does best. A player of a similar vintage

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to yourself but still doing the business on the pitch? I was

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surprised to find out he was the same age as me. He is still doing it

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exactly. Plenty of miles left on the clock. He is doing well and

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McDonald, another player, a very athletic player and a younger player

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as well. A big matchwinner, his team have not had a great season, they

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did win the Celtic society but they didn't really feature, it has been

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his biggest day of the season today, people see Rory, physically he has

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changed, stronger than before. Interesting to see if he can make

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that count today. What is the key thing from the Scotland squad that

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they need to do to win? They can give away silly fouls, that is where

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Ireland punish Scotland. Stay strong and keep the ball as much as they

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can on the ground because Ireland are used to playing in the air,

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there are hurdles are bigger as well, Scotland are best on the

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ground. A while ago we heard from Ronald Ross but what about the

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island camp? We have been talking to their manager. How much have you

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been looking forward to this day? For three or four weeks, training

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with the lads, it is a special time of year. It is near the end of the

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season, we have had a long hard year, many of us but the next thing

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is to play for Ireland coming up to Scotland. It is a fixture they

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enjoyed. A disruption to lose the McGrath brothers? Won we know they

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have commitments to football. We knew it couldn't happen, what will

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be the key to getting the grips of this game? A lot of the lads have

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played it, 16 or 18 have experience to it and that will help a lot. The

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first 15 or 20 minutes are vitally important to get a hold. That is the

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Ireland manager. You take a keen interest in the gale exports in

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Ireland, a thriving scene and hurling is a key part of that. --

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Gaelic sports. Tipperary won the All-Ireland this year and it is an

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honour to have Michael playing in this match. He is against Waterford

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taking a fantastic goal. In the line-out, he played in the midfield

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in the All-Ireland final, now he seems to be forward. He will be

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looking to get points and goals for them but we have had big stars in

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this game in the past and I have not managed to cope, we will see how he

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does today. Give us a sense of the regard that these players are held

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in Ireland? People not used to it may not grasp the scale of it and

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how important it is to Irish life? It is huge. There are over 2500

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clubs in the world, and they are held in greatest team by their

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communities because they play for their parish and if they are good

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enough, they go on to play for their county team, today it is the

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national side. It is a fantastic sport and it is great we can get a

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composite game here where they can play each other. How tough are these

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athletes that have come over from Ireland? How much of a challenge is

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it? When you start the game, it is barely even but the fitness really

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shows later in the game. They built pretty well, their stamina is really

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good and their strength. They get better as the game goes on. It is

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important for Scotland to get a lead before they get to grips with the

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game and put points on the board. It is shinty versus hurling, it makes

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havoc, chaos and mayhem but are significant rules that make this

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compromise event take place and this is how it works.

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Almost time to get things under way, a quick prediction from the guys

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before we get to the action. How do you see it going this afternoon?

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After last year 's performance, if Scotland can perform near that,

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island will have become whip up with it, they did not score a point from

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open play last years and that is a huge thing. Confident? I think

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Scotland will do it but it will be a close run thing. I think Ireland

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will come but strong later in the game. What is your prediction? 21-15

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Scotland. Sounds good to me, we will chat more to you throughout the show

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but things are about to get underway here in Inverness.

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COMMENTATOR: A warm welcome on a magnificent autumnal day in

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Inverness. It has been island's day so far. The Dublin women winning the

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women's match earlier this morning. The Irish under 21s overpowered

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Scotland with a strong finish, more on that later. It is up to the

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Scotland seniors to rescue the situation in this magnificent

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setting as they try and establish a formidable record of a hat-trick of

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home wins at the home of shinty in Inverness. The Royal British Legion

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pipe band from Inverness and gaudy Stroud, warming things up.

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They are introducing the formal party.

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Being introduced to the teams. A wonderful atmosphere here. The

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women's match attracted quite a substantial audience this morning in

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the mist, which had descended, it was chilly and cold but plenty of

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entertainment on offer. The Irish women winning by 11-2. Then the day

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has improved as the forecast suggested it would. And it has

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presented us with absolutely perfect playing conditions. Slightly greasy

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on top of the grass, the groundsman has produced a wonderful playing

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surface. He says he has never seen the grass grow at this time of year

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at the way it is growing. The change in the weather or the climate but

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all to the good full for these players. I am joined by Fraser

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Ingles, who has come from that turf, is it greasy on top? It is a bit. A

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lot of missed here in Inverness today. As the sun rises and

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hopefully the temperature rises and it should burn off and the grass is

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a good length, that is very important in this fixture. In

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shinty, you don't want it too long. Ireland would want it longer.

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Conditions are fair for both teams. Absolutely perfect setting. Many

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international team captains do not have their father on their shoulder.

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Being introduced to his playing compatriots. Looking down at the

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geography of the situation, the town is to the right as we watch the max.

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The big screen keeping the crowd entertained. Ronald Ross is the team

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manager. And a formidable management trio as the teams line up for the

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national anthems of the two competing nations. And first of all,

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our visiting friends from Ireland. Their sport in Ireland has been

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dominated by some very sad news, always a stirring rendition of the

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national anthem and to take the Scots away, it is Robert Robertson.

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# O flower of Scotland # When will we see your like again #

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That fought and died for # Your wee bit hill and glen # And stood

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against him # Proud Edward's army # And sent him homeward # Tae think

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again # Those days are passed now # And in the past they must remain #

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But we can still rise now # And be the nation again # That stood

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against him # Proud Edward's army # And sent him homeward #

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Tae think again. #

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APPLAUSE Not a breath of wind hardly around

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Bught Park as the lengthening shadows of autumn introduce us to

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this fantastic contest between Scotland and Ireland. The two teams.

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Scotland has a strong team, a clutch of award winners from last night.

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Performance of the annual awards. Steven MacDonald and Finlay MacRae,

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the two national Player of the Year award winners.

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Kevin Bartlett and Glen MacKintosh are the men who will be finding the

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net for Scotland. Freeman of Mayo out. Keep your eye

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on Michael Breen of Tipperary. The captain is the goalkeeper, Reilly.

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The referee today is Innes Wood. The ball put in between the two

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competing sides as ever, Ireland are in green and are hitting from left

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to right. Be warned, do not do any of this at home and strap yourselves

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in for the next 80 minutes. Because this could be quite a match. Barr,

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the skipper. I did warn you, the first few contests are absolutely

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critical in this game. Indeed they are. They push in the back by

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Patrick Kelly. This is a really good opportunity for Kevin Bartlett

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already to get two points over the bar for Scotland. The Scotland under

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21 team were somewhat profligate in their use of these free hits because

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they didn't take their chances which were on offer. Bartlett however has

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proven how to do it before and he has done it. It is a good start and

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exactly what you would expect from Kevin Bartlett. That is a warning

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for the Irish. If they want to give fouls away in that area, Kevin will

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punish them. A nice, clean strike. The Irish defender nearly managed to

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walk it but he just managed to get it over the bar and that will give

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him confidence. I think it might have got a deflection but it doesn't

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matter. Over the bar, between the posts from a dead ball, from a

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free-hit off the ground, two points. One point from open play.

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We saw earlier in the under 21 match also how the midfield is very often

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bypassed here because of the length and strength of the hitting. The

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ball being propelled for perhaps two thirds of the length of this

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enormous pitch at Bught Park. The great glen down to our left with

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the ball is heading. Scotland dropping it in on top of the half

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forward, looking for the second ball coming out from the defence. Bunched

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in midfield. Barr in the middle of it. Bartlett. Just the players

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slipping and sliding as they get to grips with the surface. A massive

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hit from defence. This is what the Scots are up against because it just

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comes rocketing back. The player from Kildare goes down. This is the

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kind of territory the Scots don't want to be giving away free hits.

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No. I don't think Andy Mackintosh meant that, it was just his foot

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caught the opposition's trailing foot. It will be interesting to see

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whether Scotland decide to hit it off the ground and try to get two

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points. Shane do leak has done his damage before so we will see if he

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still has the radar. He has whacked it. He has put it wide. That is a

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get out of jail card early on because we know what he can do. We

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have seen it before. Historically, you have had a big influence in this

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match. It is surprising he didn't manage to get it over the bar. He

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pulled it wide unfortunately for him. Chances in the early stages.

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Always the first quarter, our also, critical for the Scottish team that

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they get in and they get their tackles in hard and early and they

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put pressure on the Irish because it does take the Irish a little while

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to settle down. Ronald Ross knows that. Two shrewd shinty-hurling

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brains of their day. They know the men the mark. Keen to keep Michael

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Breen under lock and key. Because if he starts to run the game, that

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could be a very long afternoon. That is him on the far side. Up it goes.

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This will be the pattern, the long, high ball, taste of the Scottish

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defence and they need to clear it better than that. Finlay MacRae,

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last night's national Player of the Year, one of three brothers in the

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Scottish pool. His brother Keith is up in the forward line in the

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starting line-up. Two best fullbacks in the game. This year's Premier

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League Player of the Year. Steven MacDonald alongside Finlay MacRae

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and Steven MacDonald tells me he is carrying an injury, he has his knee

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strapped. When I asked him how he thought it was, he said we will soon

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find out. I am sure we will. One of the best hitters in the game. There

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is the evidence. Looking for Keith MacRae but it is too long. Not a

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breath of wind here. Normally a very strong wind left-to-right but today,

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it is absolutely still. Perfect condition because often, the wind

:25:16.:25:19.

can spoil a match so it is good it is calm and not an advantage to

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either team. That is a wasted ball straight out from the Irish keeper.

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The captain Reilly. No stranger to Bught Park. Not happy obviously,

:25:31.:25:43.

with that. That is beyond midfield. Good chance for Scotland. Certainly,

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Reilly's distance is good. He will be looking to do something about

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that. Distance wise, he got a good distance on it. This is so difficult

:25:59.:26:07.

for the Scottish team to tackle. Dylan taking the ball. One-handed.

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So easy to flick the ball on with an arm and a battle like stick.

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Scotland trying to use their mobility and their pace and play the

:26:24.:26:31.

ball along the ground. We found some of the under 21 players had

:26:32.:26:37.

difficulty with the surface. These top guns should manage it well. Look

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at that, taken clean out and away. But it is wide. The game is almost

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as if an early change here, just below us we see the Irish making a

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substitute. Seem to be making a change, a tactical switch. Rolling

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substitutes as the game goes on and we will see this happen all the

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time, players coming and going. I would say early on, Ireland were

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quite dangerous upfront although they have not scored, they have

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settled in fairly well and I think the warning signs. The need to be

:27:17.:27:20.

historically, you have to rack up the points against Ireland because

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they do get stronger as the game goes on. I think that will be the

:27:23.:27:27.

case, Scotland will have to get in front because Ireland have started

:27:28.:27:31.

quite well and you can only see them getting better as the game goes on.

:27:32.:27:36.

Steven MacDonald has taken a run-up and that can only mean one thing, he

:27:37.:27:41.

is going to go for a goal from her. At the very worst, he will drop it

:27:42.:27:44.

right in front of Reilly in the goal. This is basically from the

:27:45.:27:53.

middle of the field, halfway. Almost by the tunnel. He has got the range

:27:54.:27:57.

and the distance but not quite the accuracy so there is a message. If

:27:58.:28:02.

he's going to do that, he has to start scoring. A good effort from

:28:03.:28:06.

Steven, that is a big distance he is hitting and it wasn't far away. If

:28:07.:28:12.

you can get it in line, the goalkeeper has to deal with it if it

:28:13.:28:16.

drops short. If you're going to be short, it is not a disaster.

:28:17.:28:23.

Dwyer fitting it into midfield, that was a beautiful touch and a high

:28:24.:28:33.

ball but it is wide once again. They asked beginning to pick up the

:28:34.:28:40.

rhythm. The Irish team, fantastically athletic. A nice turn

:28:41.:28:47.

by Michael Breen, he gets the shot off but he just pulled it wide. The

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signs are there already that Ireland will be strong this year and they

:28:52.:28:54.

will start getting points on the map over the bar. They haven't so far.

:28:55.:29:01.

Steven MacDonald, Scottish full-back, when the ground. That is

:29:02.:29:07.

wide again. That is the threat. Once the momentum is there for the Irish

:29:08.:29:10.

players, as they roll forward, this is what happens. Dwyer with the

:29:11.:29:17.

effort and he seemed to go for the goal, not the points over the bar.

:29:18.:29:23.

Just wide. If that had been a foot inside, it probably would have been

:29:24.:29:27.

an open score for Ireland. The interplay with the Irish forwards is

:29:28.:29:32.

good. The natural instinct of an Irish player is to flick the point

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through, not be too bothered about the goal at this stage. They like to

:29:37.:29:42.

keep that school -- score board ticking over. They are on the move.

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Look at that, beautiful skill. Stuart MacDonald in the goal.

:29:53.:29:59.

Scotland had to be very careful because that was dropping right in

:30:00.:30:09.

front of them. Chat has been in the game quite a lot already, picking up

:30:10.:30:15.

a lot. Bain has been told by the Scotland coaching tough, tighten up.

:30:16.:30:24.

-- the Scotland coaching staff. You need to get as close to your man as

:30:25.:30:27.

possible. The closer you are, the less dangerous it is. If you stand

:30:28.:30:35.

off halfway, you are in trouble but if you go right in, it swings right

:30:36.:30:40.

round you and it is all fine. John Barr.

:30:41.:30:47.

You get the feeling the Irish will be content to hold this opening

:30:48.:30:55.

phase of play and then cut loose once they have mastered the

:30:56.:30:56.

conditions. Last year, Scotland started strongly

:30:57.:31:08.

but after 11 minutes here, island have been the better team, despite

:31:09.:31:16.

Scotland having a two point lead. Has dropped into the danger area and

:31:17.:31:20.

flipped over the bar by the keeper. That counts as a point in play. A

:31:21.:31:28.

good effort off the ground. Fantastic effort and on target. We

:31:29.:31:36.

mentioned before, Dwyer is a capable player and Scotland will have to

:31:37.:31:40.

watch him closely. Tipped over the bar, that counts. It is the Irish on

:31:41.:31:53.

the mark with their first point. So the danger signs are there but even

:31:54.:31:57.

from that distance, hitting off the ground, it is a skill the Irish have

:31:58.:32:01.

developed and worked on over the years, hitting off the ground.

:32:02.:32:06.

Certainly looks more difficult than it does in shinty terms but with the

:32:07.:32:12.

angle of the stick and the flick of the wrist takes it up in the air.

:32:13.:32:18.

McDonald had to be careful but again, just wide. Again, the play

:32:19.:32:22.

going left to right more often than not. Fantastic sideline cut, the

:32:23.:32:28.

distance he got on it creates an opportunity. At the moment it is all

:32:29.:32:35.

Ireland and that is ominous for Scotland, traditionally, Scotland

:32:36.:32:38.

have gone into the lead but at the moment, island are pushing forward.

:32:39.:32:48.

This might be one of the answers, McRae, there are three macro blue

:32:49.:32:55.

shirts here. Kevin Bartlett just a bit slow off the mark there. A good

:32:56.:33:02.

tackle. Two Irish players, they are moving in twos, cleverly. If one

:33:03.:33:05.

misses the ball, there is way someone else. Len McIntosh slips

:33:06.:33:12.

outwards. Takes the nudge in the back, knew exactly what he was

:33:13.:33:15.

doing, drawing in the Irish player for a book -- push in the back and

:33:16.:33:22.

get a free hit. Scotland have not been in the game much but Kevin has

:33:23.:33:25.

an opportunity here for another two points. It would not be a reflection

:33:26.:33:31.

of the game so far but you need to take your chances. 14 minutes in or

:33:32.:33:43.

thereabouts. The referee, a bit of off the ball there, I think he felt

:33:44.:33:47.

the Irish player was getting too close and tried to push him back.

:33:48.:33:52.

The defending player, if we call it that, is allowed to charge once the

:33:53.:33:57.

ball is flicked up at all. If they flick it up to run it on, the

:33:58.:34:03.

incoming player can have a go. It is taking your life in your hands. That

:34:04.:34:11.

was our friend from lasted, Damien Healy, he seemed to be involved in

:34:12.:34:15.

every physical tussle and he is back at it again this year. I am sure

:34:16.:34:21.

Roddy will help him out in that respect. Heading on for 15 minutes.

:34:22.:34:28.

He went the goal that time. Well dealt with by Reilly. Always a

:34:29.:34:35.

gamble but from that distance, very difficult to beat the Irish people.

:34:36.:34:40.

Does it surprise you he didn't take the points? I think Kevin would have

:34:41.:34:44.

gone over the bar here but as the first one, he didn't seem to get the

:34:45.:34:49.

height on it so I don't think it was a deliberate effort to go for goal

:34:50.:34:52.

just that he didn't strike the ball as he would like and it dropped

:34:53.:34:58.

short and the keeper dealt with it. Plenty of action off the ball. All

:34:59.:35:07.

kicking off all over the place now. Almost literally nothing between the

:35:08.:35:13.

sides. No goals sent two points to Scotland, no goals and 1.2 Ireland.

:35:14.:35:19.

15 minutes in, 40 minute duration in each half. Slightly shorter than the

:35:20.:35:28.

shinty version of 45 minutes. That is due to the intensity of the game.

:35:29.:35:33.

It is intense and the substitutes will all be used. It is not going to

:35:34.:35:40.

run out. Makes a good job of the clearance. Makes sure he gets it up

:35:41.:35:50.

to virtually halfway. Always really come under pressure, Stuart

:35:51.:35:53.

McDonald, confidence in his own ability, he does the simple thing

:35:54.:35:55.

and gets rid of the ball. Damien Healy, didn't quite get hold

:35:56.:36:09.

of that one. Slightly spongy, the surface. Not getting the whole

:36:10.:36:15.

underneath it. The grass shorter than they are used to, that is well

:36:16.:36:20.

taken. That is a good score from open play. Cha Dwyer again, making

:36:21.:36:28.

it count, the ball breaks across, he is on to it quickly and takes the

:36:29.:36:33.

point for Scotland. If the chances are taken... That takes the scores

:36:34.:36:48.

level, 0- two, 0- two. McRae. Oh, and again. You could see the first

:36:49.:36:54.

tackle, I can see how the player was just late coming in but the second

:36:55.:37:03.

one... The ball comes out, he swings through, to be fair, he didn't carry

:37:04.:37:07.

the swing through, it is the next one on Damien Healy, the whistle had

:37:08.:37:10.

gone when Damien Healy swung there so that was definitely not right. We

:37:11.:37:17.

will see how Kevin hits is, can he get more height on the effort and

:37:18.:37:22.

get it over the bar. The last one, he didn't get it high enough to

:37:23.:37:27.

clear the goalkeeper. That is the view, directly in line, we will get

:37:28.:37:30.

a good view of this because we will see exactly where it is going. The

:37:31.:37:35.

Irish player charging in and he drifted, a little bit of a cut to

:37:36.:37:39.

make sure but a good two point, that is more like we expect from him.

:37:40.:37:48.

Well done by Bartlett. Island are trying to close down sooner is they

:37:49.:37:52.

can and it was be down to Kevin not to let that distract him. A

:37:53.:37:55.

beautiful is like by Kevin, head down over the ball and swing

:37:56.:38:00.

straight through. Wish I had a swing like that. It them and hope.

:38:01.:38:07.

Meanwhile, at the other end, sweet movement off the ball, that is the

:38:08.:38:10.

kind of tackle you need from Stephen McDonald. The stick extended and

:38:11.:38:16.

protecting himself but also catching the Irish man before delivering the

:38:17.:38:22.

ball. And that is when the pressure leads to mistakes.

:38:23.:38:39.

Stephen McDonald again on the sideline, this time he will probably

:38:40.:38:45.

look to drop it into the final third and reach from there. He will be

:38:46.:38:51.

looking to bring Glenn into play. They all have numbers on them and

:38:52.:38:55.

the numbers relate to the players numbers on them back so they will

:38:56.:38:59.

know right away. In the coaches here from Ireland won't necessarily know

:39:00.:39:03.

some of these players because they are from all over Ireland so they

:39:04.:39:08.

will have the number to know that. There was a day where you would be

:39:09.:39:13.

given one and told to get on with it. The facilities are there. We

:39:14.:39:21.

heard the message there, they are on top, that is what they think. And I

:39:22.:39:26.

think they are right but the school doesn't reflect it. 4-2, Scotland

:39:27.:39:35.

lead. -- the score. Another opportunity now for Scotland on the

:39:36.:39:37.

far side, from the touchline. Stephen McDonald taking all due care

:39:38.:39:45.

and attention. Inside the Irish half, just. Drop six short this

:39:46.:39:52.

time. And Scotland, you see the tactic, even if it is dropping wide,

:39:53.:39:57.

it was possible to have a go and knock it back into play. It was, it

:39:58.:40:03.

goes to the right-hand side of the goal. McRae does really well but the

:40:04.:40:07.

ball was out of place even before he could get on it. Scotland have to

:40:08.:40:11.

make these opportunities count. If you knock them over the bar, you

:40:12.:40:18.

have to try and keep them in play. Up it goes again. They've got the

:40:19.:40:25.

distance on the measure of that but not the accuracy we would quite

:40:26.:40:28.

expect of the Irish team at this stage. Another opportunity goes

:40:29.:40:34.

wide. At the moment, the game is that way where both sides are

:40:35.:40:38.

playing OK, island certainly with the best of it but neither team is

:40:39.:40:44.

really making it count on the scoreboard. No player sticking his

:40:45.:40:51.

hand up and causing havoc yet. Here is a chance for Scotland. Bartlett

:40:52.:40:56.

pulls down. Look where the ball ended up in the net eventually. It

:40:57.:41:03.

was done and dusted but he is claiming his shirt was pulled as

:41:04.:41:09.

well. 61, half a dozen of the other. Kevin did well, it is a 50-50 and

:41:10.:41:14.

Kevin wrapped his arm around Irish players and it looks like the Irish

:41:15.:41:19.

player had fouled him. They are complaining a bit, he certainly

:41:20.:41:22.

didn't think it was a foul but Kevin has the ball. Again, this is what

:41:23.:41:28.

makes it count, if he can get this two points, Scotland will have a 6-2

:41:29.:41:32.

lead and they can barely justify that with the possession Ireland

:41:33.:41:37.

have had. The foul would have been all and sundry on the big screen as

:41:38.:41:40.

well so everybody knows that Bartlett has got away with one here.

:41:41.:41:48.

Now that took a touch so it is only one point four that. You can see how

:41:49.:41:57.

the Irish player rushed him there. It is the second player who got the

:41:58.:42:02.

deflection. It was indeed. He just catches the top of his Hurley. That

:42:03.:42:08.

was a good intervention because it saved Ireland a point. Small

:42:09.:42:17.

margins. I did see in the under 21 match, players and the elevation of

:42:18.:42:23.

the dead ball, it is like the surface is sticky in some way. The

:42:24.:42:27.

players will just have to combat that. No prisoners being taken and

:42:28.:42:36.

no quarter given or asked. Just a little touch, sending the ball 30 or

:42:37.:42:43.

40 yards up the field. The Scotland defence standing firm. And he gave

:42:44.:42:49.

it everything there. That is a very sore Irish lake there. Have a look

:42:50.:42:55.

at it, a chance for Scotland, Roddy McDonald. High and between the posts

:42:56.:43:01.

and you would have expected a little bit better. I think psychologically,

:43:02.:43:08.

the Scotland players, Kevin's swing, the ball was there, he got away with

:43:09.:43:13.

it, played it through. Glenn tries to move in and Roddy is onto it, now

:43:14.:43:17.

it is a big chance, he stretches really well but just too high. It is

:43:18.:43:22.

a point but they would have been looking to get three points for

:43:23.:43:25.

Scotland by hitting the back of the net. You would expect them to get it

:43:26.:43:37.

on target. A chance gone begging. Some of the off the ball stuff is

:43:38.:43:41.

very interesting actually. The players trying to get the upper

:43:42.:43:45.

hand, it all counts to the next tackle I suppose. Look at the number

:43:46.:43:51.

of players in midfield, it is astonishing. A nice turn again. But

:43:52.:43:56.

you have to put that down to technique. The wind is not

:43:57.:43:59.

interfering with play at all. Definitely not. Dwyer again going

:44:00.:44:06.

forward, pressed by Daniel Cameron. From an Irish perspective, the

:44:07.:44:09.

shinty stick is a bit longer and when you get hit by the shinty

:44:10.:44:15.

stick, it is far more painful, it is laminated, a more solid stick. Some

:44:16.:44:22.

guys are thoroughly bit wary of the stick getting close to them and is

:44:23.:44:25.

affecting their composure when it comes to points. A great run and

:44:26.:44:30.

McDonald comes out. The ball goes to ground, it is in the ruck of

:44:31.:44:34.

players, Stephen McDonald trying to get it away. Not the biggest man on

:44:35.:44:41.

the field, the goalkeeper and that he certainly punched above his

:44:42.:44:44.

weight there and fired back in from the side. That is a point from open

:44:45.:44:50.

play, a fantastic point from a way out there. It is Shane Dooley with

:44:51.:44:54.

the point from the touchline out there. It was actually Shane Nolan

:44:55.:45:01.

who ran through Rhyl you well. Stuart McDonald came at and blocked

:45:02.:45:05.

him, Scotland struggled to get it clear and Shane Dooley from that

:45:06.:45:08.

angle, a really good single point he took there. Flicking it up, best to

:45:09.:45:14.

close him down, you can see the acute angle he is shooting from, a

:45:15.:45:19.

well taken point. Absolutely nothing the goalkeeper can do that. The

:45:20.:45:30.

referee lets it go. Scotland get it away. This time just a little bit

:45:31.:45:36.

obvious. Shoulder to shoulder is fine. Most other things are fine but

:45:37.:45:45.

not a push in the back. This is a save from earlier. Watch the

:45:46.:45:52.

goalkeeper. He made sure that either the man or the ball was not getting

:45:53.:45:58.

past and he got both. Eventually, the McDonald completes the

:45:59.:46:06.

clearance. He liked that. Pick on someone your own size. Just a

:46:07.:46:13.

question as to whether Ronald Ross was making a substitution there, no

:46:14.:46:17.

was the answer. McDonald delivers bound into the corner trying to

:46:18.:46:18.

stretch the Irish defence. Scott Law wasting some of the

:46:19.:46:31.

possession at the moment. There is a substitution here though. --

:46:32.:46:36.

Scotland wasting some of the possession. Trying to see who has

:46:37.:46:48.

gone off, somebody has or is. I can't see anyone going off,

:46:49.:46:59.

actually. There is MacRae going off just behind us.

:47:00.:47:05.

Lovely play by the Irish. It is not all big blasts and knocks, there are

:47:06.:47:16.

some lovely touches, superb skills. This is the direct approach though,

:47:17.:47:22.

dangerous ball, well taken. Through the midfield. Just this lack of

:47:23.:47:29.

precision in the Scottish passing at the moment. Andy Mackintosh having

:47:30.:47:32.

to come back and work very hard. The Irish colour on the far side,

:47:33.:47:42.

Michael Breen, a touch of something special. Technically, I think he is

:47:43.:47:48.

allowed to get away with it but this is what he did, keep your eye on the

:47:49.:47:52.

helmet. It is his face guard actually. Brave man! In shinty, that

:47:53.:48:00.

would normally be a foul. Because you put yourself in danger. Another

:48:01.:48:08.

sideline cut for Ireland and audibly, if he strikes it well, it

:48:09.:48:14.

is in a reachable distance for him. Scotland defender get with three men

:48:15.:48:18.

at the back. Once Bearman to try to pick up the second bowl is the first

:48:19.:48:20.

offenders get it. Didn't quite get a handle on that

:48:21.:48:27.

one. He has got it again. Still comes

:48:28.:48:39.

away with the ball and he has got it up on his stick, danger for

:48:40.:48:45.

Scotland. Turning the wrong way, facing the goal and the sticks are

:48:46.:48:51.

flying. The referee says it is a Scottish free-hit.

:48:52.:48:57.

Lee Bain goes to clear land Divilly grabs him by the arm. That was a

:48:58.:49:07.

foul and Scotland benefit to clear their lines. Good play by Chabert

:49:08.:49:15.

wire. That is the kind of pressure you see in hurling all the time.

:49:16.:49:29.

All part of the trick of having to adapt to the compromise rules. The

:49:30.:49:37.

Irish not allowed to kick or catch the ball as they would normally be

:49:38.:49:42.

allowed to do. Sometimes, you see a hand going up or a kick. Just by the

:49:43.:49:48.

nature of the custom and practice from their own game. That is a huge

:49:49.:49:57.

hit again. Ten minutes left for one of these teams to make a mark in the

:49:58.:50:05.

first half. Again, just snatching at it, Dwyer, again but he is key in

:50:06.:50:10.

midfield, getting a lot of the ball. He seems to be finding a lot of

:50:11.:50:15.

space and Scotland haven't really taken advantage of the spacey sound

:50:16.:50:19.

because he has had a lot of opportunities in goals but most have

:50:20.:50:22.

gone wide. The worry is how much space is finding. Why is he finding

:50:23.:50:29.

it? If he is taking these opportunities, Scotland would

:50:30.:50:30.

probably be behind at the moment. The crowd are very close to the

:50:31.:50:45.

action. Good gathering of folk sprinkled all around the field.

:50:46.:50:52.

Pleasant conditions. Three matches at Bught Park, it has brought a lot

:50:53.:50:56.

of people out, and encouraging crowd. One of the key things in this

:50:57.:51:04.

game is to be first to the ball, you must do that. At the moment, when

:51:05.:51:09.

the ball comes through, Ireland are first to all the breaking balls and

:51:10.:51:12.

Scotland are having to chase them. Scotland need to try to come around.

:51:13.:51:18.

You must be first to the ball. At the moment, Ireland are making the

:51:19.:51:22.

most of that. They are hunting impacts as well.

:51:23.:51:29.

Beautiful skills from the back. Launching it. James Toher a

:51:30.:51:40.

commanding presence at the back. There are three ships around John

:51:41.:51:46.

Barr because they know they need to control him midfield. That is maybe

:51:47.:51:52.

slightly soft. Paul Divilly put a bit of pressure on him but again,

:51:53.:51:55.

that experience of John Barr, pressure on him and this would give

:51:56.:52:04.

him the foul. If Kevin Bartlett puts this over the bar, it will be 8-3 to

:52:05.:52:13.

Scotland. Another good view of Kevin Bartlett's hit, look at the Irish

:52:14.:52:16.

player going to launch himself at him. This time there is no doubt at

:52:17.:52:23.

all, it is that beautiful golf swing of Kevin Bartlett, and other two

:52:24.:52:28.

points to him, eight points to Scotland. They lead 8-3. Exceptional

:52:29.:52:37.

hit by Kevin Bartlett. I am not backed up on golf terminology but he

:52:38.:52:43.

has hit that with a slight fade. Here egos, plans his foot and head

:52:44.:52:49.

over the ball, swings right through. -- here he goes. Let's see the

:52:50.:53:02.

balance of the Irish attack. Scotland seem to have conceded

:53:03.:53:07.

midfield and just left it. Acres of space in midfield for both teams to

:53:08.:53:11.

exploit but they are just not using it, just taking midfield out of the

:53:12.:53:16.

equation entirely. The wood is flying. Bang. Up it goes. Some

:53:17.:53:35.

tackling. It is just ferocious. The referee is stepping in here because

:53:36.:53:38.

that is a little bit over the line, I think. Michael Breen was involved

:53:39.:53:46.

in the two instances. He challenged with Cameron and I think he got

:53:47.:53:50.

caught in the face by Michael. He just gets him in the mouth. Frasser

:53:51.:53:56.

Heath comes in and tackled him and gets the tackle in but there is a

:53:57.:54:00.

kick by Michael Breen and that is worthy of a booking certainly.

:54:01.:54:07.

Michael Breen, he is a big, powerful athlete from Tipperary and making

:54:08.:54:15.

his presence felt. You suspect he has another year as well because I

:54:16.:54:19.

don't think we have seen the best of him so for. A beautiful hit again.

:54:20.:54:27.

MacDonald is on Twitter but not quite quickly enough. The Irish

:54:28.:54:36.

under pressure. -- McDonald is on it.

:54:37.:54:40.

They will hope they can create space freighter goal or another point. Put

:54:41.:54:51.

them under pressure. Now, you will try from the sideline, Bartlett and

:54:52.:54:54.

he is taking it back, understandably, as far as he can. To

:54:55.:55:00.

get a better angle. This, from the shape of his shot, is difficult but

:55:01.:55:09.

not unachievable. Look at the right-hand post, Kevin Will aim at

:55:10.:55:12.

that and look to fade it to the left. That will be his line. Cut it

:55:13.:55:25.

in on the left-hand side. The Irish goalkeeper waggling the posts,

:55:26.:55:29.

trying to make it as difficult as possible. And he has done it, a

:55:30.:55:34.

spectacular finish, he bent it around between the two posts.

:55:35.:55:40.

Exceptional, head down, the ball is up on a nice if -- divot. Kevin

:55:41.:55:52.

Bartlett is proving to be the difference in this game so far. He

:55:53.:55:58.

did the opposite of what we expected, hitting it pretty

:55:59.:56:04.

straight. Two points, Scotland lead 10-3 heading for the interval. That

:56:05.:56:10.

might... But hasn't... It is again wide. Not quite got the accuracy at

:56:11.:56:17.

all. We expect better of the Irish forwards in the midfield. I think

:56:18.:56:25.

another thing we must be aware of the major thing is that they can't

:56:26.:56:28.

handle the ball and usually when they would go to hit the ball over

:56:29.:56:32.

the bar, they would take it from their hand and distribute it to the

:56:33.:56:36.

sticks. They have to use the stick to get the distance over the bar and

:56:37.:56:40.

it is not coming that easily to them at the moment. But they get there,

:56:41.:56:45.

we have seen before. You wait coverage to the second half, they

:56:46.:56:48.

will find their range when they have to do. That is a good tackle. It is

:56:49.:56:54.

the kind of tackle you need at the back to keep the ball... That is a

:56:55.:57:00.

lovely touch into Steven MacDonald. And again, again... If I was being

:57:01.:57:05.

cynical, I would say the Scotland are playing for this, they know the

:57:06.:57:11.

Irish players will be at their back. He is first to the ball, close to

:57:12.:57:17.

the Irish player. If you get there first, your opponent has to decide

:57:18.:57:21.

the jockey or try to tackle and Damien Healy put the pressure on the

:57:22.:57:26.

back and over went Thomas. This is again within distance for Kevin. The

:57:27.:57:32.

referee indicated there are two and a half minutes left. Ronald Ross had

:57:33.:57:38.

a wry smile, pacing up and down, he knew exactly what had happened. You

:57:39.:57:44.

can imagine him schooling his young prodigy Borthwick. Off it goes. This

:57:45.:57:52.

time, it is wide. He will be disappointed with that. A little

:57:53.:57:59.

wide. He caught it slightly heavy. He may be just caught the ground.

:58:00.:58:05.

Just pulled it slightly right, maybe distance wise, he felt he was right

:58:06.:58:09.

at the end of his range and tried a bit harder. Any further out than

:58:10.:58:15.

that and you would expect Steven MacDonald the come forward and take

:58:16.:58:22.

it. A debate I think, someone has suggested the ball went through and

:58:23.:58:34.

in -- Innes Wood was checking. No goals for Scotland but they will

:58:35.:58:42.

come. There is a classic shot, I almost said a classic score. It

:58:43.:58:49.

looked good. As it left the club. As it left the caman. But score. This

:58:50.:58:56.

is what you would expect. It just goes wide and that is the key

:58:57.:59:00.

factor, they are having to play it from their stick into the air.

:59:01.:59:06.

Usually, they would catch it and distribute it and clean strike it.

:59:07.:59:10.

At the moment, it is costing them because these missed opportunities

:59:11.:59:14.

are the reason why they are behind. The only thing against Scotland at

:59:15.:59:18.

the moment is the sun. Thinking ahead, that could be important in

:59:19.:59:25.

the second half of this glorious autumn of Inverness because Scotland

:59:26.:59:28.

will have the advantage in the second half. You can see the kind of

:59:29.:59:32.

effect it has on the shadow of Ronald Ross. MacDonald already has

:59:33.:59:41.

his cap on, having to deal with it, so the Irish goalkeeper will have to

:59:42.:59:45.

deal with it in the second half. Particularly with dropping balls.

:59:46.:59:48.

These three are dropping just under the bar and they will be difficult

:59:49.:59:52.

to deal with because he is trying to find the ball and players coming in

:59:53.:59:54.

on top of him and challenging him. Innes Wood has called it a day

:59:55.:00:07.

because that is it in terms of the first half. Scotland have exceeded

:00:08.:00:10.

all expectations in terms of the possession. A succession of points,

:00:11.:00:17.

well taken by Bartlett who has been the key to Scotland's position in

:00:18.:00:21.

the first. Under the cosh for part of the time but never really in

:00:22.:00:28.

trouble in terms of threats. Scotland have defended well and

:00:29.:00:31.

conceded three points, only three separate scores, a single point and

:00:32.:00:36.

double point and then another double. Shane Dooley getting the

:00:37.:00:41.

third one which has taken us to the interval where the score at Bught

:00:42.:00:46.

Park in Inverness at the Marine Harvest international is Scotland

:00:47.:00:47.

10-3 Ireland. Our three wise men have become two

:00:48.:01:06.

because of phrase of being in the commentary box. Your thoughts on the

:01:07.:01:12.

first half? Well played Scotland. They have dealt with challenges.

:01:13.:01:16.

Ireland have been physical and have had a hands-on approach. Scotland

:01:17.:01:21.

have adapted and taken that in their stride and come back and Kenny

:01:22.:01:24.

Bartlett has been on form when needed. The significance for the

:01:25.:01:31.

Scotland team at the start of this match, it was what we predicted at

:01:32.:01:39.

the start of the programme. The we knew what we were talking about. He

:01:40.:01:44.

started well, one of the free hips, it was taken back and he didn't

:01:45.:01:47.

actually get it over the bar. But on a number of occasions, doing his job

:01:48.:01:52.

and what he does best the fade inside the post and he his having an

:01:53.:01:58.

excellent day for Scotland. What did you think of his early contribution?

:01:59.:02:04.

He has more points than anyone else, stayed true to form, kept on scoring

:02:05.:02:10.

the points and getting the points on the board for Scotland at half-time.

:02:11.:02:18.

It was heartening for the crowd to see him, and we were talking about

:02:19.:02:22.

the start of the programme as well, Roddy McDonald has played his part.

:02:23.:02:29.

Unlucky not to get bought -- goal when the ball fell to him. Scotland

:02:30.:02:34.

playing well at the moment. If they can carry this for the next 40

:02:35.:02:38.

minutes it will be a good win for Scotland. How heartening has it been

:02:39.:02:45.

to watch? It has been wonderful. You can see a great team spirit and the

:02:46.:02:48.

Scotland team this year. They are working for each other and the big

:02:49.:02:52.

thing that is disappointing is when you work so hard and get an

:02:53.:02:56.

opportunity to convert points and don't convert them, that sends

:02:57.:03:01.

messages to the team of uncertainty. But each time that is happening,

:03:02.:03:05.

Kevin partnered is there to foot it over the bar. It comes out with in

:03:06.:03:13.

waves through the team. The island got on the scoreboard, what have you

:03:14.:03:17.

made of their showing? They will be disappointed they haven't converted

:03:18.:03:23.

more, they have had a lot of wides. It is a great skill from the hull to

:03:24.:03:29.

cut as high as that, going full two points instead of one. They might be

:03:30.:03:33.

better to try and flick and put it over for the one and keep the

:03:34.:03:37.

scoreboard ticking over. But the more they do that, the more it works

:03:38.:03:44.

in Scotland's favour. Island have had their chances in this match, but

:03:45.:03:48.

on occasion, they have not been able to take all of their chances. It has

:03:49.:03:53.

been uncharacteristic of them because if they have half a chance

:03:54.:03:56.

in the Scotland half usually, they will put points on the board. They

:03:57.:04:00.

have had a lot of chances but been missing them. We will see something

:04:01.:04:04.

in the second half where they try and get more points. They kept on

:04:05.:04:10.

trying their chances and it didn't quite come for them, that must be

:04:11.:04:15.

frustrated for them? Get when you work hard and not take your chances,

:04:16.:04:21.

it creates a wave through the team. Ireland are playing extremely well,

:04:22.:04:24.

they are passing well. Another opportunity snatched, you can see

:04:25.:04:29.

them getting frustrated with each other and their efforts. McDonald

:04:30.:04:33.

watches that one go by without any threat. It is not just the senior

:04:34.:04:38.

shinty hurling international taking place today, earlier before this

:04:39.:04:44.

match took place it was the under 21 team, the Scottish under 21 shinty

:04:45.:04:52.

team taking on the Irish under 21 hurling team. Went pretty much as

:04:53.:04:58.

expected, always a big gap between the sides physically because the

:04:59.:05:02.

Irish side seem to be more developed physically. The first Irish goal and

:05:03.:05:07.

was taken well by Jack Sheridan, outstripping the Scotland defence

:05:08.:05:10.

and not giving them any chance to defend the goal at all. Then a lot

:05:11.:05:15.

of pressure leading to this fantastic run from Tom Fox of

:05:16.:05:19.

Tipperary who finished in some style to put the Irish well ahead. Really

:05:20.:05:24.

he was one of the key differences between the two sites. The pressure

:05:25.:05:29.

was incessant on Scotland but they stood firm. Watch this for a save

:05:30.:05:34.

from the Inveraray goalkeeper, Scott McLaughlin. He was like the Dutch

:05:35.:05:42.

boy with his finger in the dying, eventually it came 28 minutes into

:05:43.:05:46.

the half, scrambled goal eventually but it was Will Cowie who forced the

:05:47.:05:52.

ball over the line to give the Scottish team some heart because by

:05:53.:05:56.

then they were under the cosh. The Irish were relentless in their

:05:57.:06:01.

pressure. This time it was a Tipperary man, Andrew Coffey with

:06:02.:06:07.

the third goal at half-time, Ireland had scored three goals to one and

:06:08.:06:11.

led 16-9. Scotland hit back again with Charlie McDonald, number 13 for

:06:12.:06:19.

the Scottish team, who got them back in the game. Still hope but the

:06:20.:06:23.

Irish extinguished that eventually after they had traded points. They

:06:24.:06:31.

made it 17-23 and then it finished 17-30 with Ireland celebrating in

:06:32.:06:38.

the under 21 international. That didn't go so well. And and did not

:06:39.:06:43.

go well for Scotland in the women's version of hurling. It was a

:06:44.:06:47.

Scotland team up against the Dublin selector and unfortunately the

:06:48.:06:53.

Scotland they lost 12-2. That took place earlier today. So far things

:06:54.:06:58.

going better for the men's senior team. The silverware going to the

:06:59.:07:05.

Irish there though. A quick break from the match itself because last

:07:06.:07:09.

night was a big night in the world of shinty with a big awards ceremony

:07:10.:07:14.

for the season 's best players. The best player of the shinty season

:07:15.:07:18.

went to Finley Macrae, I caught up with him last night. It means a lot.

:07:19.:07:25.

A lot of good players have got this in the past, to be amongst that I am

:07:26.:07:31.

delighted. A good year. How would you sum up this year? It has been

:07:32.:07:38.

quite a momentous one? Brilliant for everyone involved. We felt in the

:07:39.:07:41.

last few years that we under achieved a bit so this year, we

:07:42.:07:46.

upped it a bit and we should be challenging for cups and at the top

:07:47.:07:50.

of the league. It has been a good day for everyone involved and hope

:07:51.:07:54.

it will continue with more hard work. What does it mean to have

:07:55.:07:58.

Sonny Kenwood shield players involved in the Scotland team in

:07:59.:08:02.

this massive match? It is always good to be with your team-mates at

:08:03.:08:08.

club level for an international. There is a whole buzz around our

:08:09.:08:12.

area. I don't think we have ever had so many internationals in the team.

:08:13.:08:17.

It is a proud feeling and it is really good. Scotland have done well

:08:18.:08:21.

in recent times, how confident are you ahead of the match? Very

:08:22.:08:26.

confident. All of the players know what they are doing and well

:08:27.:08:32.

drilled. We just have to show it on the day that we can do it and we

:08:33.:08:37.

have proved that in recent years. It will not be easy but we are

:08:38.:08:44.

confident. The second half is about to get underway. COMMENTATOR: And

:08:45.:08:50.

the referee has changed T-shirt just to make it a little bit clearer that

:08:51.:08:56.

he is the official in charge. He was looking much like the Scottish team

:08:57.:09:00.

in the first half. Scotland defending the goal to our left,

:09:01.:09:03.

Scotland hitting from left to right as we watched the match. 10-3 at

:09:04.:09:11.

highest time, no goals at all in the first half. That in the way is a bit

:09:12.:09:15.

of a surprise but we know the goals will come. Yes, defensive times, you

:09:16.:09:22.

want the ball to go in the net, I think Ireland will come out really

:09:23.:09:25.

hard in the first ten minutes of the second half and try and get back in

:09:26.:09:30.

contention. To be fair, there has not been anything in it with the

:09:31.:09:35.

territory, but the scoreboard tells a different story. Ireland will be

:09:36.:09:39.

really determined to get back into this game and try and win it. Some

:09:40.:09:47.

shenanigans at midfield between the Scottish captain... There you go,

:09:48.:09:58.

sorted. Just like that. Interesting exchange and maybe an indication of

:09:59.:10:03.

the intensity of the game as the referee struggles, I wouldn't say he

:10:04.:10:08.

is struggling but trying to exert his authority with his new yellow

:10:09.:10:12.

shirt and yellow boots, matching colours. I notice he hasn't tucked

:10:13.:10:21.

his shirt in. Some flying would there. Shattered timber on the far

:10:22.:10:31.

side. Carry on is the cry. You get the feeling that the pace has been

:10:32.:10:37.

upped straightaway. Steven McDonald was under that and gets a second

:10:38.:10:43.

chance. The Irish picket up in midfield. A helmet flying now. Down

:10:44.:10:53.

they come, Cha Dwyer did not quite get hold of the player going for the

:10:54.:11:00.

12. And a hefty challenge, the Scottish defenders are losing their

:11:01.:11:04.

composure slightly here. Another shattered stick and even with a

:11:05.:11:07.

broken stick, what a save and a second time. The second time, it is

:11:08.:11:14.

disallowed, the goal is disallowed. What a period of play that was.

:11:15.:11:18.

Starting with a shattered stick and I think I am right in saying, it was

:11:19.:11:22.

the broken stick he used to fire the shot in. Michael Green takes the

:11:23.:11:29.

first shot, great save by Stuart McDonald. And number 18 was in an

:11:30.:11:34.

offside position, he was in the circle before the ball. The swing in

:11:35.:11:41.

by Michael Breen, number two get the shot and a fantastic save. The

:11:42.:11:46.

intensity definitely upped at the start of the second half, the

:11:47.:11:49.

challenges even more ferocious than the first. The Irish have fired a

:11:50.:11:57.

few cannons already, some meaty challenges. There is another one. I

:11:58.:12:01.

don't know what they put in the tea at half-time but it has worked.

:12:02.:12:07.

Scotland battling away. The sun has gone so that is not as much of an

:12:08.:12:16.

advantage as we thought it might be. It is all happening on the far side.

:12:17.:12:23.

Some great entertainment for people just a few feet away from it. They

:12:24.:12:31.

are right in the line, James Taylor I think not it over the line, there

:12:32.:12:40.

is the line there. Another chance for Kevin Bartlett from the side.

:12:41.:12:44.

This is certainly within his range. Patrick Kelly from Kerry coming out

:12:45.:12:48.

to try and block him and put pressure on him. Bartlett from the

:12:49.:12:59.

far side. A tight angle. Fires it low and it is wide. Didn't quite get

:13:00.:13:06.

a grip of it. We will look at the disallowed goal again. Already you

:13:07.:13:12.

will see the left-hand side, number 18 in the circle. You are not

:13:13.:13:16.

allowed to be in that circle before the ball enters the circle. He was

:13:17.:13:21.

in it before the first initial shot came in so he was completely

:13:22.:13:25.

offside. Not just a little bit. That is why the goal was disallowed. You

:13:26.:13:29.

have to have the patience for the ball to go into the circle before

:13:30.:13:35.

you enter. All a matter of timing, split-second decision to go in and

:13:36.:13:39.

anticipate or not. The Irish, Glenn McIntosh has been kept very quiet.

:13:40.:13:45.

They know the threat he poses. Probably the best finisher in the

:13:46.:13:53.

Premier League at the moment. Another helmet or some sort of

:13:54.:13:56.

protection gone there. Maybe a hand guard. It is a boot actually. Damien

:13:57.:14:04.

Healy did well, driving forward, then he came under quite a bit of

:14:05.:14:09.

pressure from the Scotland players. He goes forward there. He slips but

:14:10.:14:14.

he kept going and not putting pressure on him and try to retain

:14:15.:14:17.

possession of the ball. At that stage, Scotland fouled him and a

:14:18.:14:22.

chance for over the bar from Ireland, quite far out, he will do

:14:23.:14:26.

well to reach and get it over the bar from there. Shane Dooley

:14:27.:14:30.

certainly capable of putting it over the bar from here but we will see

:14:31.:14:34.

how he gets on. Watch the balance and rhythm as he flicks it up and

:14:35.:14:39.

leeches the shot, he has kept it low, making it looking for a

:14:40.:14:45.

deflection. Stuart McDonald was quick off his line to dispatch the

:14:46.:14:51.

ball out to the side. That is an interesting tactic that they didn't

:14:52.:14:54.

go to take the point but create the opportunity for the goal. I am not

:14:55.:15:00.

convinced, I think what has happened with Ireland, when they flicked the

:15:01.:15:02.

ball up, they would normally step forward with the ball and the

:15:03.:15:07.

momentum and they would put the ball up maybe two metres in front of

:15:08.:15:10.

them, step forward onto it, you cannot do that here, you have to

:15:11.:15:13.

lift and strike so they can't generate the same amount of power

:15:14.:15:20.

into the strike. The Scottish defenders are onto it, they have

:15:21.:15:24.

forced the mistake, the ball coming into midfield and then the second

:15:25.:15:33.

tackle. One-handed hurling there. Just a small bodycheck to create the

:15:34.:15:39.

space. They are quite intent and quite happy to play it backwards if

:15:40.:15:43.

it means playing another player into a better position. The ball

:15:44.:15:49.

underneath the body and deemed to be a foul, stopping the play. This is

:15:50.:15:54.

great skill. Beautiful composure on the ball, sales around Roddy

:15:55.:15:59.

McDonald, Roddy gets back at him though, managing to get the

:16:00.:16:04.

challenge in and blocks it. This is a good opportunity, well within...

:16:05.:16:13.

The referee explaining what Fraser Ingles explained earlier that if he

:16:14.:16:17.

picks it up, he can't move and uses own weight and momentum, he has to

:16:18.:16:21.

do it from a standing start and there is the result, it is not so

:16:22.:16:26.

easy. Not the natural inclination or the natural way of playing it. It

:16:27.:16:29.

makes it very difficult for them to do what they normally would do.

:16:30.:16:36.

He went to the ground strike and it was a poor effort. Ireland paying

:16:37.:16:42.

the price for not making the most of the set pieces. That is vital and

:16:43.:16:48.

that really is the difference so far today. Scotland have made the most

:16:49.:16:52.

of theirs whereas Ireland simply have not and that is the difference

:16:53.:16:58.

in the score line. Steven MacDonald, another one on the left hand side

:16:59.:17:02.

and the far side in front of the main stand and that has taken a

:17:03.:17:08.

deflection. It was off and Irish caman and Kevin Bartlett trots over

:17:09.:17:15.

and I think the rolling subs, both sets of management teams are allowed

:17:16.:17:19.

to chop and change their teams, very important they do that. This is

:17:20.:17:25.

Bartlett here, having a look to see what particular change the Irish are

:17:26.:17:28.

making but we will keep an eye on Bartlett. Innes Wood has stopped the

:17:29.:17:33.

game to clarify how many players we have on or not. The changes, Shane

:17:34.:17:41.

Nolan has gone up front, from Kerry, gone up into the forward line. This

:17:42.:17:45.

is Bartlett. Off it goes and again, I think it

:17:46.:17:58.

got a deflection. Another hefty challenge and this is closer, well

:17:59.:18:07.

within his range. On initial viewing of that, I don't know if there was

:18:08.:18:12.

much in it. The swing from Patrick Kelly but the ball was certainly

:18:13.:18:17.

there. It was a strong challenge but Scotland were slightly fortunate to

:18:18.:18:21.

get that I would say. The Irish not happy with that decision. There is a

:18:22.:18:27.

ball in the net so we get that one out so there is no confusion.

:18:28.:18:33.

Bartlett with a great chance here. Still a debate about the decision

:18:34.:18:38.

but it is too late now because the ball is at Bartlett's feet ready to

:18:39.:18:44.

go. This time, he sends it high, straight and handsome. That gets

:18:45.:18:49.

Scotland up and running in the second half. 12-3. Again, close

:18:50.:18:58.

range for him, get it up quickly so the Irish defender can't walk in and

:18:59.:19:01.

it sails between the posts, climbs really quick and in between the

:19:02.:19:07.

posts. The Irish have set it in motion again and they will want to

:19:08.:19:11.

respond to that. Stuart MacDonald weights and takes it down, beautiful

:19:12.:19:16.

play, beautifully sent out where Steven MacDonald could pick it up.

:19:17.:19:23.

Safety first but well dealt with, he can't catch it but just slap it down

:19:24.:19:28.

and knock it away and he did it all in one movement, almost like a

:19:29.:19:34.

hurling goalkeeper. These tackles are enormous. There is a shinty

:19:35.:19:39.

stick on, Andy Mackintosh creating the chance and it is just behind but

:19:40.:19:42.

unfortunately having to turn which gives the Irish defender a chance to

:19:43.:19:51.

take it. Brought to a shuddering halt, a bone shuddering halt. Down

:19:52.:19:57.

on the touchline. Innes Wood will have word. James Toher had a

:19:58.:20:04.

beautiful run. Frasser Heath completely takes him out of the run.

:20:05.:20:12.

Another opportunity for Ireland, getting the points over the bar.

:20:13.:20:20.

Stuart MacDonald just knocked it out knowing the full-back would deal

:20:21.:20:24.

with it. It is not a traditional corner, if you put it out over the

:20:25.:20:28.

sideline, it is a good opportunity to get points over the bar so great

:20:29.:20:31.

presence of thought from Stuart MacDonald. Smart play and good

:20:32.:20:36.

coaching I think. It will have been drummed into them not to give away

:20:37.:20:42.

what we would call corners. Because they are effectively free-hits. That

:20:43.:20:49.

is a mistake in the Irish defence. A chance here. Scotland trying to put

:20:50.:20:55.

pressure on and they managed to take three Scottish players out with one

:20:56.:20:59.

movement. Scotland have it again, Roddy MacDonald. Brought the ground.

:21:00.:21:13.

Every time Kelly goes near the ball he seems to get a foul against him.

:21:14.:21:22.

Not a lot in it. I think Scotland know it is vital to get first

:21:23.:21:25.

possession of the ball and they knew for sure opponent to try to get the

:21:26.:21:29.

ball off you and if he does put any pressure on you, it is a chance to

:21:30.:21:34.

go over and asks the question of Innes Wood, am I getting a foul and

:21:35.:21:40.

so far, he has given a lot of fouls in these situations and Scotland

:21:41.:21:41.

have cottoned onto that. Steven MacDonald fires it away and

:21:42.:21:54.

fires wide as far as I can see. Yes. And again, a chance missed, chance

:21:55.:22:03.

goes begging. He has got the length without a doubt and the technique,

:22:04.:22:06.

everything bar the finishing accuracy. That is good play. Almost

:22:07.:22:16.

a good tackle by Roddy MacDonald. You only get one chance to get the

:22:17.:22:21.

ball away in this game. Flashing sticks. This is a one-on-one with

:22:22.:22:33.

Steven MacDonald. That is good defending. A little kick out I

:22:34.:22:38.

think. They will want to see this in the replay because I suspect... I

:22:39.:22:42.

think he got away with it. I think they have given the free Ireland.

:22:43.:22:51.

Watch how it finishes. They have given it for the foul presumably

:22:52.:23:02.

because he did kick it out. He felt he had to. He was under pressure.

:23:03.:23:08.

This is a good chance, will he give it a blast? He did. Well stopped by

:23:09.:23:12.

the Scottish defence, they were ready for it but the chance is still

:23:13.:23:17.

there and again, the second ball from play, they converted it. It

:23:18.:23:21.

went over the bar from open play, one point. The first score of the

:23:22.:23:29.

second half, remarkable. Micky Boyle from Kerry the first to react.

:23:30.:23:39.

Mackintosh gets the clearance on it. The ball comes to Micky Boyle and he

:23:40.:23:43.

gets the point over the bar. Ireland's first point which is very

:23:44.:23:48.

poor for them. A few Irish men are hobbling.

:23:49.:23:54.

Cha Dwyer has taken a knock. Roddy MacDonald getting involved. Now they

:23:55.:24:04.

are all beginning to gather around Roddy MacDonald. He is heading for

:24:05.:24:10.

the other side of the field understandably and Innes Wood has

:24:11.:24:12.

warned Roddy MacDonald to be careful. This is what happened. Just

:24:13.:24:22.

a careless slash, and a second swing and a third one. Scotland have to be

:24:23.:24:28.

careful they don't lose their composure. Scotland teams in the

:24:29.:24:33.

past have done that, they get carried away with the physicality of

:24:34.:24:37.

the game. They have got away with that because that is wide. This is

:24:38.:24:43.

wasteful. Ronald Ross has gone onto the pitch to have a word with his

:24:44.:24:47.

players. I think he felt the temperature going and he has warned

:24:48.:24:51.

them they need to win this by playing shinty, it is the only way

:24:52.:24:55.

they will do it. The best way anyway. There is a lull in the game

:24:56.:25:04.

at the moment after the frenetic start, the first 10-15 minutes of

:25:05.:25:08.

the second half. That is a great block and the ball has gone through

:25:09.:25:15.

but again, the player is in the circle before the long ball came. If

:25:16.:25:19.

you keep your eye to the left, now Innes Wood has stopped the game

:25:20.:25:29.

again. The ball comes in anyway and again, Shane Nolan that time, in

:25:30.:25:35.

before the ball and I think for the Irish, the circle is far bigger than

:25:36.:25:39.

they normally play in Ireland and they properly are not realising they

:25:40.:25:46.

are offside. They need to be aware of that, when the ball comes in,

:25:47.:25:49.

they need to take a look and see where the circle is. It is a natural

:25:50.:25:56.

inclination from the regular game, the drift in and try to pick up the

:25:57.:26:00.

pieces they are finding themselves today, a couple of times, they have

:26:01.:26:05.

found themselves in the D area before the ball and that is illegal

:26:06.:26:12.

in the compromised rules. A chance for Roddy MacDonald, his long arms

:26:13.:26:17.

and legs, didn't quite have the final push. Bartlett holds back. A

:26:18.:26:21.

crucial intervention by the Irish defender. Coming in at the back.

:26:22.:26:28.

Just enough to put them off because the ball fell kindly to Kevin

:26:29.:26:34.

Bartlett. Eoin Reilly having to readjust, he was going to take a

:26:35.:26:38.

quick one but the ball fell off the Keep it to yourself, right?

:26:39.:26:41.

Unfortunately for him. The ball was taken by Bain but plenty of pace in

:26:42.:26:48.

this Irish attack. That is well cleared by Finlay MacRae. National

:26:49.:26:58.

Player of the Year, the new one, from the Marine Harvest awards last

:26:59.:27:01.

night. Another good chance by Bartlett, how many does he need? He

:27:02.:27:06.

is certainly getting them anyway. The game has really descended into

:27:07.:27:11.

set piece opportunities and we haven't seen many good attempts on

:27:12.:27:16.

goal and I suspect that is detracting from the game because it

:27:17.:27:19.

is just coming down to these points over the bar. The game needs a goal

:27:20.:27:24.

from Ireland to make it a even contest and the game into life.

:27:25.:27:29.

Someone has to start chasing it because if the game finishes level,

:27:30.:27:34.

the trophy will stay with Scotland as last year's winners. There are

:27:35.:27:41.

some tactics going on off the ball. Changes being made. Thumbs up from

:27:42.:27:47.

the official. Kevin will do well to get it over the bar from here. He

:27:48.:27:53.

has a bit of an angle to deal with. Deep breath, big swing and he

:27:54.:27:56.

slashed it. You could hear the contact made with the ground before

:27:57.:28:02.

it hit the ball. He made the 10-15 yards and that will make a

:28:03.:28:06.

difference. It dropped short but the key thing, it was still in play so

:28:07.:28:10.

Glen MacKintosh could go in and put a bit of pressure on. This now, you

:28:11.:28:17.

would feel Kevin has a good chance. It is a more acute angle but

:28:18.:28:22.

distance wise, it is reachable for him, so his technique doesn't come

:28:23.:28:26.

under so much pressure. This is within range for him.

:28:27.:28:32.

It is a great block. It is still live and Scotland were not quite

:28:33.:28:44.

quick enough to capitalise on the block. They have sussed out the way

:28:45.:28:49.

and pace of the ball. Look at how he jumped up, it is his body that

:28:50.:28:56.

blocked it. Karl Murray got his body in the way and stopped it and

:28:57.:29:00.

Scotland couldn't take advantage. Still an 8-point game, we have 20

:29:01.:29:08.

minutes left. For the two teams to sort this all out. You get the

:29:09.:29:16.

feeling there is more to come. There comes a point in every game with

:29:17.:29:19.

somebody decides you have to try to win this. The same applies to

:29:20.:29:22.

Scotland because they cannot sit back. They can't defend 8-point

:29:23.:29:29.

because it is easily manageable by the Irish, just start rattling the

:29:30.:29:33.

ball over the bar if they can get near enough. This is a great chance

:29:34.:29:41.

for them. What a save. You want it text book shinty goalkeeping save

:29:42.:29:46.

from someone who knows what doing? Here it comes. Cha Dwyer hits it low

:29:47.:29:53.

and Stuart MacDonald is down. He stopped that with his stick. He says

:29:54.:30:01.

it and clears it all in one movement.

:30:02.:30:07.

It is a free-hit, he scoops it up and he is looking for the second

:30:08.:30:15.

shove from the players coming in but it is a breathtaking save. This man

:30:16.:30:29.

won the cup for Lovat. A different style of goalkeeping, most

:30:30.:30:32.

goalkeepers just go to smother that ball with their body but Stuart

:30:33.:30:36.

MacDonald has the confidence to go and volleyed the ball away. Number

:30:37.:30:44.

19 is Mark MacDonald coming on. And the number six Lee Bain has put in a

:30:45.:30:50.

good shift and he is replaced in midfield. Probably less of a

:30:51.:30:56.

defender and more of a midfielder than Mark MacDonald. Lee Bain is a

:30:57.:31:03.

straight defender says Scott and needing something in the field I

:31:04.:31:11.

think. Just not managing to get the ball to the forward line. We have

:31:12.:31:15.

hardly seen anything from Glen MacKintosh. This is a chance. On the

:31:16.:31:21.

left-hand side, cutting inside. A good ball, first touch. The defender

:31:22.:31:27.

carefully, good intervention by the defender, making sure Roddy

:31:28.:31:29.

MacDonald had to run further and couldn't get to the second ball.

:31:30.:31:37.

That is more efficient to move, we have not seen many of those, not

:31:38.:31:42.

many passing movements from either team because they have been so

:31:43.:31:48.

reliant on set pieces. Here, Ireland again, Dwyer releases it and just

:31:49.:31:53.

lack of composure there because he had more time than he thought I

:31:54.:31:58.

think. You could see the desperation and frustration on his face. I think

:31:59.:32:03.

his team-mates are getting exasperated with him now because any

:32:04.:32:07.

opportunity he has, he is shooting the goals and he is not making it,

:32:08.:32:13.

the two Irish players there waiting for it coming, neither a shot nor a

:32:14.:32:18.

pass. As the clock ticks down, Ireland are not really closing the

:32:19.:32:28.

gap at all to Scotland. Just a sense I have backed the pitch conditions

:32:29.:32:37.

are slightly less manageable, with the pitch becoming slippery because

:32:38.:32:46.

of the evening due. Fraser Heath trying to defend from the front.

:32:47.:32:51.

Better play from Scotland, Cameron played it down to the corner flag

:32:52.:32:56.

allowing them to keep Ireland on the defence. That is what Scotland need

:32:57.:33:00.

to do, get the ball in the wide areas. A wasted ball from Ireland.

:33:01.:33:07.

Some sloppiness coming into their play at times. Their captain,

:33:08.:33:20.

shirtsleeves at the end of October, moral less, McDonald. Asking for a

:33:21.:33:29.

new ball. Some stuff going on off the ball. Picked up by the referee,

:33:30.:33:39.

eyes on the back of his head. Some little nudges going on here and

:33:40.:33:46.

there. A few stoppages -- remarkably few stoppages in the game as well

:33:47.:33:50.

and even more remarkably, very few injuries. Such a physically

:33:51.:33:55.

demanding contest. Not the prettiest at times but it is hard and it is

:33:56.:34:05.

tough with sticks buying. Even without them, the frustration, you

:34:06.:34:10.

get the feeling the Irish team is frustrated, they haven't quite

:34:11.:34:13.

adapted to the circumstances are some of the island teams over the

:34:14.:34:17.

years. Michael bring carrot on to try and play without his whole, that

:34:18.:34:22.

of course is a foul because he has nothing to protect him serve with.

:34:23.:34:26.

Ireland have been closing down the free hits from Scotland, a good

:34:27.:34:30.

tactic by them but somehow they haven't had the quality to make it

:34:31.:34:34.

count in the final third, getting points over the bar and that is the

:34:35.:34:38.

difference so far. Kevin Bartlett has the quality to take points when

:34:39.:34:43.

Scotland have an opportunity. Had the McGrath brothers been here, I

:34:44.:34:48.

think we would have seen that from them, playing up front. It is just

:34:49.:34:53.

unfortunate there are other commitments didn't allow them to be

:34:54.:34:57.

here. They might have had that X factor to stand out from the rest of

:34:58.:35:02.

the team. Trying to close the gap from last year, Scotland were really

:35:03.:35:08.

dominant and ran out worthy winners. Ireland have contested it far better

:35:09.:35:12.

but when it comes to the vital aspect of scoring points and goals,

:35:13.:35:16.

it has not been there for them. Kevin with another opportunity to

:35:17.:35:24.

extend the Scotland lead. Giving the flag the heave Ho so he can complete

:35:25.:35:29.

his swing. It is high and long and it is good. That is a good hit. That

:35:30.:35:35.

has given Scotland a bit more comfort. Yes, just cutting inside

:35:36.:35:42.

the left-hand post, that slight fade. I don't know if that was over

:35:43.:35:48.

the bar looking at it. It looked like it cut before the left-hand

:35:49.:35:51.

post, we will look again, not convinced it went over the bar. It

:35:52.:35:56.

has been given, that is the point I suppose. Just in the gathering

:35:57.:36:07.

gloom. Let's have a look and see if we can see that. A perfect view of

:36:08.:36:13.

this. As Kevin strikes it, the ball starts to fade left and it goes more

:36:14.:36:19.

and more left. That is in. I think that is in. You think? I will keep

:36:20.:36:32.

quiet then. The Scotland sub, number 20, Greg Matheson, this is a man we

:36:33.:36:37.

think is not fully fit. An exceptional forward, a beautiful is

:36:38.:36:40.

Tiger with both hands but has a recurrent hamstring problem. He is a

:36:41.:36:47.

danger. Scrapping away. Just on the field and picking a fight. Damien

:36:48.:36:57.

Healy again. They are at it all the time. That is a distraction Scotland

:36:58.:37:02.

can't afford really. They need to concentrate and focus but they are

:37:03.:37:08.

looking for Matheson to get a goal. They are in the lead, just play the

:37:09.:37:12.

game out, play it wide and take the two points when they come and try

:37:13.:37:16.

and get a goal but no need to get involved and have a man sent off or

:37:17.:37:22.

anything like that. Heading for the final ten minutes in very short

:37:23.:37:28.

order. All of a sudden you get the feeling Scotland are getting more of

:37:29.:37:32.

the ball and being more creative. McRae being up front has helped

:37:33.:37:36.

that. There is a chance if Glenn McIntosh can turn it. The goalkeeper

:37:37.:37:42.

is off and running and away with it. He is gone, good night. It is the

:37:43.:37:46.

captain, he is off, happy. How far will he make it. He has taken it

:37:47.:37:52.

well up and created a great chance and what an ovation he got because

:37:53.:37:56.

that is simply outstanding from Reilly. He is a bit of a showman in

:37:57.:38:04.

these fixtures over the years. He will is that if his team-mates want

:38:05.:38:08.

going to do it, he would do it himself. A tremendous run, it shows

:38:09.:38:13.

you the goalkeeper but how fast that fit he is to carry at that distance

:38:14.:38:16.

and Scotland doing their best to chase him but he realises he had

:38:17.:38:20.

better get rid of it and plays it forward. I like the look on them in

:38:21.:38:25.

touch's face. They are trying to create a chance for further play but

:38:26.:38:31.

Scotland have it, they don't quite get it away. This time it is gone.

:38:32.:38:35.

The Irish are filling the space much better now. Quite keen and able to

:38:36.:38:44.

pass it back but tempting fate because Matheson is on top of him.

:38:45.:38:48.

They are starting to throw men forward, Stephen Donald basically

:38:49.:38:55.

playing as a sweeper now. Just marking space, not picking up any

:38:56.:39:00.

individuals. I am not sure that is a wise tactic because if you don't

:39:01.:39:03.

pick up the men, Glenn McIntosh has come way back into midfield.

:39:04.:39:09.

Matheson and Roddy McDonald upfront. Bartlett, McRae. Keith McRae in the

:39:10.:39:18.

red helmet on the far side. They are trying to load midfield. Scotland

:39:19.:39:22.

need possession, they are going to knock this back to the danger area.

:39:23.:39:28.

Across the face of the goal, still live for Ireland. Scotland need to

:39:29.:39:32.

get it out, rammed across the goal and it has gone what we would call a

:39:33.:39:35.

corner but is a free hits to Ireland. From midfield. And again,

:39:36.:39:42.

we have reached the point in the game where they decide whether to go

:39:43.:39:48.

for goal or a point or create the chance up from the back. This is

:39:49.:39:54.

going to go for goal. He is just asking for guidance here. I think

:39:55.:40:01.

the message is, Ronald Ross intervening to try and disrupted by

:40:02.:40:08.

bringing on a sub. It a clever move. He is only allowed one movement, the

:40:09.:40:12.

referee has told him. Look at the Scottish player. He is getting ready

:40:13.:40:22.

to pounce. Conor Cormack is a defender coming on, Scotland are

:40:23.:40:26.

defending this. Conor Cormack, he injured his hand on this very pitch

:40:27.:40:34.

as I recall in a semifinal and hasn't, I don't know if he has

:40:35.:40:38.

played at all since then. Maybe once or twice. Up it goes, it is long and

:40:39.:40:48.

it is wide. He's going to stay up, he's not going back. He's decided to

:40:49.:40:54.

hang about in midfield and picked up some loose balls. Heavily strapped

:40:55.:40:58.

about the leg. Maybe not quite as fit as he should be. It was not far

:40:59.:41:04.

away but not but Foreign Office far as Scotland are concerned. Again, it

:41:05.:41:17.

drifts out. The Irish move it quickly. They are sensing they have

:41:18.:41:21.

to make a move. Time is rapidly running out. They're managed team

:41:22.:41:28.

will have told them they are in the final ten minutes. That is a good

:41:29.:41:33.

ball across the goal but it will run all the way into touch. That is a

:41:34.:41:42.

wasted ball again. It is the lack of flair and creativity in the top

:41:43.:41:48.

third beating Ireland at the moment. They haven't made the possession

:41:49.:41:53.

count, it is probably 50-50 over the game at the scoreboard doesn't show

:41:54.:41:57.

that. Island in open play have not taken many single points or goals

:41:58.:42:03.

but to clarify that, they haven't taken any of their set pieces either

:42:04.:42:07.

which is why for all of their efforts, they only have four points

:42:08.:42:11.

which is a really poor return for the effort they have put into this

:42:12.:42:19.

match. Some manoeuvring and substitutions being sorted out.

:42:20.:42:30.

Scotland have it. The spare man is a blue shirt. Gets it away and that is

:42:31.:42:38.

a good tackle. That is more like what is needed now. It was Rory

:42:39.:42:44.

Kennedy, he has had a good game. He has been exceptional for Scotland,

:42:45.:42:51.

as he was at Croke Park last year, doesn't put a foot wrong. He has

:42:52.:42:55.

been a huge feature for the Scotland today. Down to six minutes, in the

:42:56.:43:06.

closing stages. It has been an enthralling if not highly attractive

:43:07.:43:11.

contest in terms of skill value but it has been competitive all the way

:43:12.:43:15.

through. It is still there for the taking because a ten point

:43:16.:43:27.

different, three goals and a bit. You can see plenty of opportunities

:43:28.:43:31.

but they have just passed them up. I think Ireland will be disappointed.

:43:32.:43:36.

They started the game a lot brighter than last year but it has not

:43:37.:43:41.

materialised for them. And they don't have a second leg where they

:43:42.:43:47.

can peg it back. Here is what the McDonald with his own second leg,

:43:48.:43:50.

gets it to Matheson across the goal. Reilly on the move but he was caught

:43:51.:43:58.

off balance. Just falling backwards but he did enough to get it away.

:43:59.:44:03.

Rory Kennedy again, a crucial intervention. That is good play to

:44:04.:44:09.

send it up into that area, if it is out of play, it doesn't matter, it

:44:10.:44:14.

eats into the time. Ireland have got poorer and poorer at the sideline

:44:15.:44:17.

cuts for some reason, Rory Kennedy reads the game and distributes the

:44:18.:44:25.

ball away, he doesn't mess around. That is ironically one of the best

:44:26.:44:28.

cuts they have put in from the side field in a long time. Scotland

:44:29.:44:33.

having a couple of spare men floating about but that has gone,

:44:34.:44:40.

the flag has changed and the referee has overruled the flag to give the

:44:41.:44:44.

ball to Ireland. You can see how they are hurrying the play now. They

:44:45.:44:50.

know the clock is against them. They would certainly need to score a goal

:44:51.:44:54.

very quickly to get back into this game. Scotland are loading their

:44:55.:44:59.

players, pulling as many of their forwards back into midfield as they

:45:00.:45:04.

can. Some clever play, with some time and space. McDonald tries to

:45:05.:45:10.

get it but slips. The surface beginning to be a challenge. There

:45:11.:45:16.

were three Scottish defenders ready for that. There was a flag up at the

:45:17.:45:28.

back. He tried to break forward but as the ball hit the ground, he

:45:29.:45:32.

kicked it. For Irish players, they are allowed to kick it in the normal

:45:33.:45:35.

hurling game and whether he reverted back to instinct, he kicked the ball

:45:36.:45:42.

and called up for the foul. The coach still manoeuvring but Ronald

:45:43.:45:47.

Ross trying to outmanoeuvre him by changing the players. Roddy McDonald

:45:48.:45:54.

coming off and Thomas Borthwick of Carnoustie replaces him. He has done

:45:55.:45:57.

a lot of galloping about and got his knees dirty so will heal -- he will

:45:58.:46:01.

feel he has contributed all afternoon. It has not been the

:46:02.:46:09.

easiest of days for him. Well the least, a good chance now for

:46:10.:46:14.

Scotland. -- Pol east. The Scottish player in the bus, needs to get out

:46:15.:46:18.

and Macintosh hits it and gets it the way out to the left, that was a

:46:19.:46:22.

good chance but I suspect Bartlett might have been offside.

:46:23.:46:29.

That doesn't matter now because the Irish on the move. There was a

:46:30.:46:36.

deflection so it is Scotland's ball. They have the seed time out and

:46:37.:46:40.

basically then they are home and dry. It is barely conceivable could

:46:41.:46:46.

get what they need in two minutes of regular time. No, they have only

:46:47.:46:52.

scored four points in 78 minutes. Hardly likely they will score ten

:46:53.:46:59.

minutes in the time left. I think it is sad to say Scotland will win

:47:00.:47:06.

today. Looking at it neutrally, the game has failed as a spectacle, we

:47:07.:47:11.

needed goals and we needed Ireland to take more of a chance. Scotland

:47:12.:47:16.

have ground it out here without being fantastic. Ireland have a bit

:47:17.:47:23.

to do in terms of taking advantage of the set pieces and becoming more

:47:24.:47:28.

potent in the final third. There is a chance here. Kevin Bartlett, a man

:47:29.:47:34.

not in a hurry, he knows full well what the clock says. Ronald Ross

:47:35.:47:43.

will be satisfied with the results, not so sure 100% satisfied with the

:47:44.:47:49.

performance. The result is all that counts in the first instance and

:47:50.:47:53.

Bartlett has the chance in the final minute to put the icing on the cake

:47:54.:48:01.

and increase his own personal tally. Remarkable performance. It is low

:48:02.:48:07.

and he tests Reilly and wryly managed to get it away from

:48:08.:48:14.

Mattheson I think who snuck in at the back. Almost managed to get it

:48:15.:48:19.

in. Will they get it in the net before the end of the game? Wryly

:48:20.:48:23.

under pressure again, no messing that time, just sends it away.

:48:24.:48:28.

Scotland will go for another goal if they can but they have wasted that

:48:29.:48:33.

ball. Ironically, in the last minute, they just about reached Eoin

:48:34.:48:43.

Reilly's wall. Eoin Reilly gets his stick on it. Greg Matheson comes in

:48:44.:48:50.

on the ball broke. Takes another touch to compose himself but Greg

:48:51.:48:54.

Matheson block set and the ball when to Glen McIntosh. He did the right

:48:55.:49:03.

thing because he anticipated a drop of the ball and where it would be.

:49:04.:49:13.

Ireland may very well in the last minutes, they will go for a goal.

:49:14.:49:17.

They don't want to go home not having breached the Scottish defence

:49:18.:49:20.

and I suspect they want to give it one final flourish. They have done

:49:21.:49:28.

that with a point from open play. Five in total now to Scotland's 14.

:49:29.:49:36.

Nice play by Michael Doyle and Cha Dwyer. Michael Doyle taking the

:49:37.:49:40.

point. A bit of quality and composure from a player which would

:49:41.:49:43.

have been nice through the whole match. They have not been able to do

:49:44.:49:52.

it often enough. The result will tell the tale. The back story is

:49:53.:50:02.

irrelevant for the moment. A chance again, Mattheson has been trouble

:50:03.:50:07.

since he came on. Really rattled them. He has offered something

:50:08.:50:14.

different because that is what the game has needed. A little spark, a

:50:15.:50:21.

bit of flair. A bit of fancy footwork, whatever, something

:50:22.:50:24.

different just about the run of the game. Because it has been

:50:25.:50:32.

predictable in areas. Disappointing for the Irish but you will suspect

:50:33.:50:35.

they will enjoy the rest of the weekend before they go home. You

:50:36.:50:40.

have to look at how they can make a better spectacle of it, how can both

:50:41.:50:46.

teams improve? Perhaps traditionally, ten years ago, only

:50:47.:50:50.

goals counted, you didn't have any points over the bar. I think perhaps

:50:51.:50:56.

going back to goals counting only might be a good thing. They

:50:57.:51:03.

certainly need something. Tactically, the two teams have

:51:04.:51:09.

negated so much of the other side's skills. The manager will be happy

:51:10.:51:16.

enough. This is an exhibition game, an international, you want to see

:51:17.:51:20.

the best of both teams and we haven't seen that today. We haven't

:51:21.:51:25.

seen the best of hurling nor of shinty. It's been no control

:51:26.:51:34.

incidents the game has turned out the way it has because the coaching

:51:35.:51:38.

is now so intense and accurate and players are marked out for treatment

:51:39.:51:44.

in the tactical sense, their skills are tied up and the scoring

:51:45.:51:51.

opportunities are there, in set pieces for the great part on for

:51:52.:51:54.

today, for the whole part of the game.

:51:55.:52:00.

Kevin Bartlett has been excellent. Scotland B to C at the time

:52:01.:52:10.

carefully now. The Irish won the women's game

:52:11.:52:27.

earlier today. Mattheson will take this one himself, he won't bother

:52:28.:52:31.

Kevin Bartlett who has disappeared to the far end of the pitch. Maybe

:52:32.:52:38.

looking for a goal. He is by the back post looking for this at the

:52:39.:52:42.

moment. Greg is a really good striker of the ball. It'll be

:52:43.:52:46.

interesting to see what he tries to do. Right into the danger area but

:52:47.:52:53.

the offside flag is up. He was looking forward to the back post but

:52:54.:52:59.

unfortunately for Greg Matheson, he couldn't do it. The referee Innes

:53:00.:53:03.

Wood has called a halt to proceedings because at the end of

:53:04.:53:07.

the day, Scotland have emerged victorious and retained the Marine

:53:08.:53:17.

Harvest trophy with a comfortable, if not spectacular victory over the

:53:18.:53:24.

Irish. The two managers have acknowledged the excellence of their

:53:25.:53:28.

own contribution to the game. That is the man of the match for me in

:53:29.:53:32.

terms of getting the points, they are allocating each other's shirts

:53:33.:53:37.

before they go off. Scottish captain John Barr will be delighted with his

:53:38.:53:43.

team's performance no doubt and the celebrations and the rest of the

:53:44.:53:48.

entertainment can begin. Let's see what the Scottish captain thought of

:53:49.:53:49.

the proceedings. Congratulations, what does it mean

:53:50.:54:00.

to win that game? Fantastic, it was cagey game. I don't think either

:54:01.:54:06.

team were really flowing. Great effort. The man creeping over your

:54:07.:54:15.

shoulder, Kevin Bartlett. Just a word on his performance. He had a

:54:16.:54:19.

good game. Meeting the ball first and with free-hits, always potential

:54:20.:54:22.

to put them over the bar. He did well today. Congratulations, you are

:54:23.:54:28.

making a habit in this fixture of knocking over all the points. It was

:54:29.:54:34.

a good game. Probably not one of our best performances but we took more

:54:35.:54:41.

chances than they did. They missed a lot for them. Usually they are very

:54:42.:54:46.

accurate. Probably wasn't the best game I suppose but we will be back

:54:47.:54:53.

next year. Good victory for us. You seem to thrive under pressure. I

:54:54.:54:59.

don't mind it, if I'm hitting well. I missed a lot today myself but

:55:00.:55:05.

thankfully had quite a few to take. John, you will pick up the Marine

:55:06.:55:10.

Harvest Quaich from your dad, that must be special? I asked him to do

:55:11.:55:15.

it especially so I hope he has polished it! Good for the families.

:55:16.:55:23.

For you, your last shinty- hurling game? That is vicious rumours, I

:55:24.:55:30.

never said that! We will see! We will see how it goes. Good to see

:55:31.:55:37.

the dream lives on? To represent your country is an unbelievable

:55:38.:55:41.

honour. Always proud to do that and happy working with the coaches and

:55:42.:55:45.

players. Many talents on the pitch. Honoured to do it. What is likely

:55:46.:55:53.

you to pull on that Scotland jersey? It means a lot. It is something

:55:54.:55:57.

different, you play every weekend and it is the same but this is

:55:58.:56:01.

different. All the boys together and it is always fun. It is a good

:56:02.:56:07.

match. Very enjoyable. Well done, enjoy the celebrations. STUDIO:

:56:08.:56:15.

Glorious victory for Scotland. We should revel in the moment when we

:56:16.:56:20.

can. John Barr also is, also a future politician career ahead of

:56:21.:56:26.

him! A great day for Scotland and the players can sit back and realise

:56:27.:56:31.

they have won the Marine Harvest Quaich. That is well-deserved. I by

:56:32.:56:39.

former Scotland international 's Gary Innes and Eddie Tembo. A

:56:40.:56:46.

deserved victory for Scotland? They have worked very hard. Scottish

:56:47.:56:51.

defence outstanding. The forwards did their job. Kevin Bartlett gave

:56:52.:56:57.

them the points when required. We just heard from Kevin Bartlett and

:56:58.:57:01.

he is such a key player for Scotland. Absolutely. The

:57:02.:57:06.

consistency he has got is second to none. He has got 13 points I think

:57:07.:57:11.

today which is an enormous hall for him. That is what we needed to do,

:57:12.:57:17.

keep on the points, going on the board and that is what he has done.

:57:18.:57:22.

We spoke at the start of the show, he was just always going to be so

:57:23.:57:28.

important. Always. So influential. If Kevin is hitting well, it lifts

:57:29.:57:33.

the rest of the team and gives them momentum to move forward. Stuart

:57:34.:57:37.

MacDonald, and other Lovat player, he played his part. He did. He did

:57:38.:57:46.

his job fantastically. Keeping a clean sheet in these conditions must

:57:47.:57:50.

be a hard thing to do and he managed to do it. Another consistent player.

:57:51.:57:57.

He put himself on the line, it takes real guts. He is a special

:57:58.:58:01.

goalkeeper. He makes an exhibition of saving the ball. He does it so

:58:02.:58:07.

well. And so easy, makes it look like the most natural thing in the

:58:08.:58:12.

world. Absolutely. A great day for Scotland, the players are they

:58:13.:58:16.

waiting for the trophy presentation, let's go straight back to that in

:58:17.:58:18.

the company of Hugh Dan MacLennan. It is not often we get the chance

:58:19.:58:28.

these days to celebrate a Scottish victory and no doubt, both sets of

:58:29.:58:32.

players will get together this evening and complete the job. No

:58:33.:58:40.

doubt have a look forward to next year and renew the rivalry. Steve

:58:41.:58:44.

bracken of Marine Harvest issuing the awards to the Irish players who

:58:45.:58:53.

will have mixed feelings I suspect, going home. They may feel they did

:58:54.:58:57.

not acquit themselves as well as some of their predecessors. No. Last

:58:58.:59:03.

year in Inverness, they were beaten by an excellent Scotland team and

:59:04.:59:06.

they were determined to come back this year, they seemed very

:59:07.:59:11.

determined as we saw from the start. They were intense but the challenge

:59:12.:59:15.

did not materialise and it all came down to not putting points on the

:59:16.:59:18.

board. They will be really disappointed. Five points is a poor

:59:19.:59:23.

return for their efforts today. All credit to the Scotland coaching team

:59:24.:59:27.

for making sure that is the way it ended up as well because they

:59:28.:59:31.

managed to close down Ireland and the captain, Eoin Reilly, always a

:59:32.:59:35.

bit of a character. We are grateful to him for his superb run up the

:59:36.:59:41.

near side of the pitch. The referee Innes Wood had a good game, never

:59:42.:59:45.

reach for the card, kept the game flowing.

:59:46.:00:03.

Here is the man of the moment, Ronald Ross, still able to jog up

:00:04.:00:12.

the steps. Yet another medal to add to his illustrious career.

:00:13.:00:21.

Ally Ferguson has also been in charge of the team. They have got a

:00:22.:00:30.

good system no. They know what they are doing. I think the key with

:00:31.:00:36.

Ronald taking the team is, he has got a system but also got the

:00:37.:00:40.

players to play for him to make the system work. We didn't see it so

:00:41.:00:43.

much in evidence today but over the last few years, they have played

:00:44.:00:48.

nice shinty and moved the ball around really well. All the top

:00:49.:00:51.

players are now playing for Scotland. That is what Ronald has

:00:52.:00:57.

brought to the team. The question will now be whether Ronald will

:00:58.:01:00.

carry on to manage Scotland for another year or not. I can't see any

:01:01.:01:06.

reason for changes mind. I think he enjoys the role and the task and the

:01:07.:01:10.

challenge. It is a massive challenge the pit your wits against some of

:01:11.:01:11.

these players. Some of the top-class hurlers are

:01:12.:01:26.

semiprofessional. Everything available to them in terms of the

:01:27.:01:34.

competitive structures that we in the shinty world could only dream

:01:35.:01:38.

of. There is Steven McDonald, his customary big hitting game at the

:01:39.:01:43.

back. And the goalkeeper, what can we say about Stuart McCall that has

:01:44.:01:48.

not been said, he proved what a good customer he is. Now the pub quiz

:01:49.:01:52.

question for years to come, which Scottish captain went up to take the

:01:53.:01:58.

trophy from the president who is is his father. Steve Bracken doing the

:01:59.:02:04.

honours to prevent it having to take it from his father. The winners of

:02:05.:02:08.

the International this year Scotland, the winning captain, John

:02:09.:02:18.

Barr. And the beaming face to his left, our right, is his father Jim

:02:19.:02:29.

Barr. Who has played his own part in the great history of shinty on the

:02:30.:02:34.

Glenn and in terms of Scottish action. Another wonderful afternoon.

:02:35.:02:44.

Fantastic stuff. How do you sum it up, a great day for Scotland? It has

:02:45.:02:50.

been. A great performance, from the management, the whole squad. They

:02:51.:02:55.

will have a massive party tonight. In terms of the Irish, they will be

:02:56.:03:00.

disappointed, a frustrating day for them. It has, some uncharacteristic

:03:01.:03:06.

misses from the Irish which I have not seen in internationals before.

:03:07.:03:09.

They will be disappointed and will have to go back and think what to do

:03:10.:03:20.

for next year. Intensive John Barr, vicious rumours. John has been

:03:21.:03:28.

travelling the whole year to get to games, his life is changing,

:03:29.:03:33.

Scotland captain last season. 32 in the programme, think that is dubious

:03:34.:03:40.

as well. But what a way to bow out if this is his last match. I believe

:03:41.:03:45.

the Scotland manager is with our reporter. He is indeed and is all

:03:46.:03:53.

smiles, what does it mean to win the day International? Everything. We

:03:54.:03:59.

have to take heart from the last couple of months, it culminated

:04:00.:04:04.

today in a hard-fought victory. A special group of players, what did

:04:05.:04:09.

you get today? Everything. Last year we got more of the ball and got down

:04:10.:04:13.

and passed it. Ireland closes down a lot this year so it was more

:04:14.:04:20.

difficult. The closest space we got, we gave it 100%. Rory Kennedy was

:04:21.:04:26.

outstanding. We had no fails, the goalkeeper pulled off a couple of

:04:27.:04:34.

fantastic saves. Well done. Ronald Ross was undoubtedly the greatest

:04:35.:04:38.

shinty player of all time, he has turned into a fine coach as well. He

:04:39.:04:46.

certainly has. He has the best players in Scotland wanting to play

:04:47.:04:49.

for Scotland now and turning up to all of these training sessions. I

:04:50.:04:55.

hope he carries on. Will he stay on? I hope so but I don't know. He has

:04:56.:05:03.

such a great rapport with the boys. Everyone wants to play for him. I

:05:04.:05:11.

hope for the sake of the sport that he does. If he tells you to do

:05:12.:05:16.

something, you listen. Absolutely. He is the best in the game. Thank

:05:17.:05:23.

you very much, it has been a great day for Scotland in terms of the NT

:05:24.:05:31.

Sharelink -- shinty hurling international. Thanks for being with

:05:32.:05:34.

us and until next time, goodbye for now.

:05:35.:05:39.

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