2016: Scotland v Ireland

:00:19. > :00:28.This is what the sides are playing for this afternoon, it is Sinn T

:00:29. > :00:33.versus hurling, Scotland against Ireland in a truly unique sporting

:00:34. > :00:37.event. The winner takes all match in a truly unique sporting

:00:38. > :00:45.confrontation with Scotland looking to make it a hat-trick of victories.

:00:46. > :00:57.Stand-by, I hope you are sitting comfortably.

:00:58. > :01:19.What a strike. You could see that coming. Scotland hoping to make it a

:01:20. > :01:27.hat-trick of victories over the Irish this afternoon, it is the

:01:28. > :01:32.shinty reach hurling final here in Inverness. It is glorious here this

:01:33. > :01:38.afternoon, the sun has come out. Hard to believe it is October but it

:01:39. > :01:43.is time for the shinty hurling international and a beautiful day in

:01:44. > :01:48.Inverness. Shinty against hurling, it does seem a bit baffling, we will

:01:49. > :01:54.get the three Wise men of shinty to guide us this afternoon. Former

:01:55. > :01:59.Scotland international is, welcome to you all. Fraser, I will start

:02:00. > :02:03.with you, shinty versus hurling, if someone has not heard of this

:02:04. > :02:08.before, it does sound slightly crazy. Ella macro it does, but I

:02:09. > :02:12.think the rules are there to be the best of both sports. We have had

:02:13. > :02:18.good matches in the last couple of use and we hope to have more today.

:02:19. > :02:22.Eddie, you have represented Scotland in the past, it is a proud occasion

:02:23. > :02:27.to be Scotland players. In terms of the cream of the crop in shinty, it

:02:28. > :02:31.is your own chance to represent your country. The sense of pride is

:02:32. > :02:37.enormous, you only have one chance in the whole season to play this

:02:38. > :02:42.game. To get selected above other players and put in the hard work and

:02:43. > :02:48.the training, it boils down to this. Gary, you represented Scotland many

:02:49. > :02:53.times, how is it for you? Talk about the intensity of this game? Two

:02:54. > :03:00.different codes against each other, that must be challenging? It can be.

:03:01. > :03:03.This game doesn't suit a lot of shinty players but with the rule

:03:04. > :03:07.changes of the last couple of years it is coming through and it is

:03:08. > :03:12.suiting a lot more shinty players than in the past. It is their only

:03:13. > :03:17.chance to get together and represent their club and country in this

:03:18. > :03:22.sport. It is a great occasion. One of the great names of shinty is

:03:23. > :03:27.Ronald Ross, he is the man who is now in charge of the Scotland team.

:03:28. > :03:31.The short time ago he spoke to our reporter. It is a beautiful day here

:03:32. > :03:37.in Inverness, how much are you looking forward to getting the game

:03:38. > :03:40.started? The preparation is done now, the coaches are desperate for

:03:41. > :03:46.it to start, we have done the hard work, it is a case of getting going.

:03:47. > :03:52.With it being a one-off match this year, does that suit you? Yes. Over

:03:53. > :03:57.two legs, they become stronger, the first game is our best chance.

:03:58. > :04:01.They're not allowed to kick the ball or handle also it takes some time to

:04:02. > :04:04.get used to that. Asked experience has shown that over two games it is

:04:05. > :04:11.difficult to beat them. We pushed them last year in the state game at

:04:12. > :04:17.Croke Park. How do you like the make-up of your squad? We need a bit

:04:18. > :04:24.of experience as well. The boys that have come in have played really well

:04:25. > :04:30.for their clubs. It is competition in all departments, that is

:04:31. > :04:35.important. Thank you for your time. There are the Scotland players this

:04:36. > :04:39.afternoon, warming up. Fraser, Ronald Ross is a name so synonymous

:04:40. > :04:43.with shinty, a bit of greatest player of all-time, much of an

:04:44. > :04:49.impact does that have on the Scotland players? It is a special

:04:50. > :04:53.honour to be selected by Ronald, the greatest player there has ever been.

:04:54. > :04:57.He has played against many of these guys so for him to say that you are

:04:58. > :05:02.good enough to play in his team, it will give them a lot of pride. Good

:05:03. > :05:08.continuity this year because he has a good group of players together and

:05:09. > :05:11.got them into a good system. Some key players on display for Scotland

:05:12. > :05:21.this afternoon. Kevin Bartlett, he has been hugely good for Scotland in

:05:22. > :05:28.recent years? Here we see him doing what he does best, a fantastic goal

:05:29. > :05:33.and he practices this and has scored more points for Scotland than any

:05:34. > :05:37.player in history. This is where Scotland will make most of the

:05:38. > :05:43.points today, from his threes if he is on form. If Ireland flick trying

:05:44. > :05:51.to minister to two points and one point, but it is where Scotland will

:05:52. > :05:55.look to pick up their most points. He is a key player for driving and

:05:56. > :06:00.keeping the scoreboard ticking over. That is what you need to do and he

:06:01. > :06:04.will be their danger man today. Let us hope he puts plenty of points on

:06:05. > :06:08.the board this afternoon. You are interested in seeing Glenn Maxwell

:06:09. > :06:14..com are significant for his club side but also the national team. We

:06:15. > :06:19.saw him last month getting the only goal in the cup final. He holds the

:06:20. > :06:22.ball up and what he wants to do is shoot and put it in the back of the

:06:23. > :06:25.net but it will be important for Scotland to supply him with the ball

:06:26. > :06:30.today and let him do what he does best. A player of a similar vintage

:06:31. > :06:35.to yourself but still doing the business on the pitch? I was

:06:36. > :06:40.surprised to find out he was the same age as me. He is still doing it

:06:41. > :06:48.exactly. Plenty of miles left on the clock. He is doing well and

:06:49. > :06:55.McDonald, another player, a very athletic player and a younger player

:06:56. > :06:59.as well. A big matchwinner, his team have not had a great season, they

:07:00. > :07:09.did win the Celtic society but they didn't really feature, it has been

:07:10. > :07:12.his biggest day of the season today, people see Rory, physically he has

:07:13. > :07:18.changed, stronger than before. Interesting to see if he can make

:07:19. > :07:23.that count today. What is the key thing from the Scotland squad that

:07:24. > :07:29.they need to do to win? They can give away silly fouls, that is where

:07:30. > :07:34.Ireland punish Scotland. Stay strong and keep the ball as much as they

:07:35. > :07:38.can on the ground because Ireland are used to playing in the air,

:07:39. > :07:42.there are hurdles are bigger as well, Scotland are best on the

:07:43. > :07:47.ground. A while ago we heard from Ronald Ross but what about the

:07:48. > :07:52.island camp? We have been talking to their manager. How much have you

:07:53. > :07:57.been looking forward to this day? For three or four weeks, training

:07:58. > :08:02.with the lads, it is a special time of year. It is near the end of the

:08:03. > :08:08.season, we have had a long hard year, many of us but the next thing

:08:09. > :08:15.is to play for Ireland coming up to Scotland. It is a fixture they

:08:16. > :08:23.enjoyed. A disruption to lose the McGrath brothers? Won we know they

:08:24. > :08:33.have commitments to football. We knew it couldn't happen, what will

:08:34. > :08:38.be the key to getting the grips of this game? A lot of the lads have

:08:39. > :08:42.played it, 16 or 18 have experience to it and that will help a lot. The

:08:43. > :08:51.first 15 or 20 minutes are vitally important to get a hold. That is the

:08:52. > :08:55.Ireland manager. You take a keen interest in the gale exports in

:08:56. > :09:07.Ireland, a thriving scene and hurling is a key part of that. --

:09:08. > :09:11.Gaelic sports. Tipperary won the All-Ireland this year and it is an

:09:12. > :09:18.honour to have Michael playing in this match. He is against Waterford

:09:19. > :09:22.taking a fantastic goal. In the line-out, he played in the midfield

:09:23. > :09:27.in the All-Ireland final, now he seems to be forward. He will be

:09:28. > :09:31.looking to get points and goals for them but we have had big stars in

:09:32. > :09:36.this game in the past and I have not managed to cope, we will see how he

:09:37. > :09:42.does today. Give us a sense of the regard that these players are held

:09:43. > :09:46.in Ireland? People not used to it may not grasp the scale of it and

:09:47. > :09:53.how important it is to Irish life? It is huge. There are over 2500

:09:54. > :09:57.clubs in the world, and they are held in greatest team by their

:09:58. > :10:02.communities because they play for their parish and if they are good

:10:03. > :10:05.enough, they go on to play for their county team, today it is the

:10:06. > :10:10.national side. It is a fantastic sport and it is great we can get a

:10:11. > :10:13.composite game here where they can play each other. How tough are these

:10:14. > :10:20.athletes that have come over from Ireland? How much of a challenge is

:10:21. > :10:25.it? When you start the game, it is barely even but the fitness really

:10:26. > :10:28.shows later in the game. They built pretty well, their stamina is really

:10:29. > :10:33.good and their strength. They get better as the game goes on. It is

:10:34. > :10:39.important for Scotland to get a lead before they get to grips with the

:10:40. > :10:44.game and put points on the board. It is shinty versus hurling, it makes

:10:45. > :10:48.havoc, chaos and mayhem but are significant rules that make this

:10:49. > :11:27.compromise event take place and this is how it works.

:11:28. > :11:33.Almost time to get things under way, a quick prediction from the guys

:11:34. > :11:38.before we get to the action. How do you see it going this afternoon?

:11:39. > :11:41.After last year 's performance, if Scotland can perform near that,

:11:42. > :11:45.island will have become whip up with it, they did not score a point from

:11:46. > :11:52.open play last years and that is a huge thing. Confident? I think

:11:53. > :11:56.Scotland will do it but it will be a close run thing. I think Ireland

:11:57. > :12:06.will come but strong later in the game. What is your prediction? 21-15

:12:07. > :12:09.Scotland. Sounds good to me, we will chat more to you throughout the show

:12:10. > :12:14.but things are about to get underway here in Inverness.

:12:15. > :12:28.COMMENTATOR: A warm welcome on a magnificent autumnal day in

:12:29. > :12:32.Inverness. It has been island's day so far. The Dublin women winning the

:12:33. > :12:39.women's match earlier this morning. The Irish under 21s overpowered

:12:40. > :12:43.Scotland with a strong finish, more on that later. It is up to the

:12:44. > :12:50.Scotland seniors to rescue the situation in this magnificent

:12:51. > :12:56.setting as they try and establish a formidable record of a hat-trick of

:12:57. > :13:08.home wins at the home of shinty in Inverness. The Royal British Legion

:13:09. > :13:18.pipe band from Inverness and gaudy Stroud, warming things up.

:13:19. > :13:32.They are introducing the formal party.

:13:33. > :13:44.Being introduced to the teams. A wonderful atmosphere here. The

:13:45. > :13:50.women's match attracted quite a substantial audience this morning in

:13:51. > :13:55.the mist, which had descended, it was chilly and cold but plenty of

:13:56. > :14:01.entertainment on offer. The Irish women winning by 11-2. Then the day

:14:02. > :14:06.has improved as the forecast suggested it would. And it has

:14:07. > :14:12.presented us with absolutely perfect playing conditions. Slightly greasy

:14:13. > :14:15.on top of the grass, the groundsman has produced a wonderful playing

:14:16. > :14:24.surface. He says he has never seen the grass grow at this time of year

:14:25. > :14:27.at the way it is growing. The change in the weather or the climate but

:14:28. > :14:36.all to the good full for these players. I am joined by Fraser

:14:37. > :14:41.Ingles, who has come from that turf, is it greasy on top? It is a bit. A

:14:42. > :14:45.lot of missed here in Inverness today. As the sun rises and

:14:46. > :14:50.hopefully the temperature rises and it should burn off and the grass is

:14:51. > :14:54.a good length, that is very important in this fixture. In

:14:55. > :15:00.shinty, you don't want it too long. Ireland would want it longer.

:15:01. > :15:07.Conditions are fair for both teams. Absolutely perfect setting. Many

:15:08. > :15:12.international team captains do not have their father on their shoulder.

:15:13. > :15:19.Being introduced to his playing compatriots. Looking down at the

:15:20. > :15:31.geography of the situation, the town is to the right as we watch the max.

:15:32. > :15:41.The big screen keeping the crowd entertained. Ronald Ross is the team

:15:42. > :15:49.manager. And a formidable management trio as the teams line up for the

:15:50. > :15:54.national anthems of the two competing nations. And first of all,

:15:55. > :17:05.our visiting friends from Ireland. Their sport in Ireland has been

:17:06. > :17:08.dominated by some very sad news, always a stirring rendition of the

:17:09. > :17:15.national anthem and to take the Scots away, it is Robert Robertson.

:17:16. > :17:21.# O flower of Scotland # When will we see your like again #

:17:22. > :17:26.That fought and died for # Your wee bit hill and glen # And stood

:17:27. > :17:41.against him # Proud Edward's army # And sent him homeward # Tae think

:17:42. > :17:49.again # Those days are passed now # And in the past they must remain #

:17:50. > :18:11.But we can still rise now # And be the nation again # That stood

:18:12. > :18:18.against him # Proud Edward's army # And sent him homeward #

:18:19. > :18:28.Tae think again. #

:18:29. > :18:38.APPLAUSE Not a breath of wind hardly around

:18:39. > :18:44.Bught Park as the lengthening shadows of autumn introduce us to

:18:45. > :18:49.this fantastic contest between Scotland and Ireland. The two teams.

:18:50. > :18:55.Scotland has a strong team, a clutch of award winners from last night.

:18:56. > :19:00.Performance of the annual awards. Steven MacDonald and Finlay MacRae,

:19:01. > :19:09.the two national Player of the Year award winners.

:19:10. > :19:12.Kevin Bartlett and Glen MacKintosh are the men who will be finding the

:19:13. > :19:31.net for Scotland. Freeman of Mayo out. Keep your eye

:19:32. > :19:35.on Michael Breen of Tipperary. The captain is the goalkeeper, Reilly.

:19:36. > :19:54.The referee today is Innes Wood. The ball put in between the two

:19:55. > :19:59.competing sides as ever, Ireland are in green and are hitting from left

:20:00. > :20:03.to right. Be warned, do not do any of this at home and strap yourselves

:20:04. > :20:13.in for the next 80 minutes. Because this could be quite a match. Barr,

:20:14. > :20:17.the skipper. I did warn you, the first few contests are absolutely

:20:18. > :20:22.critical in this game. Indeed they are. They push in the back by

:20:23. > :20:26.Patrick Kelly. This is a really good opportunity for Kevin Bartlett

:20:27. > :20:34.already to get two points over the bar for Scotland. The Scotland under

:20:35. > :20:39.21 team were somewhat profligate in their use of these free hits because

:20:40. > :20:44.they didn't take their chances which were on offer. Bartlett however has

:20:45. > :20:49.proven how to do it before and he has done it. It is a good start and

:20:50. > :20:55.exactly what you would expect from Kevin Bartlett. That is a warning

:20:56. > :21:01.for the Irish. If they want to give fouls away in that area, Kevin will

:21:02. > :21:05.punish them. A nice, clean strike. The Irish defender nearly managed to

:21:06. > :21:09.walk it but he just managed to get it over the bar and that will give

:21:10. > :21:13.him confidence. I think it might have got a deflection but it doesn't

:21:14. > :21:18.matter. Over the bar, between the posts from a dead ball, from a

:21:19. > :21:28.free-hit off the ground, two points. One point from open play.

:21:29. > :21:36.We saw earlier in the under 21 match also how the midfield is very often

:21:37. > :21:42.bypassed here because of the length and strength of the hitting. The

:21:43. > :21:44.ball being propelled for perhaps two thirds of the length of this

:21:45. > :21:56.enormous pitch at Bught Park. The great glen down to our left with

:21:57. > :22:00.the ball is heading. Scotland dropping it in on top of the half

:22:01. > :22:05.forward, looking for the second ball coming out from the defence. Bunched

:22:06. > :22:12.in midfield. Barr in the middle of it. Bartlett. Just the players

:22:13. > :22:20.slipping and sliding as they get to grips with the surface. A massive

:22:21. > :22:26.hit from defence. This is what the Scots are up against because it just

:22:27. > :22:30.comes rocketing back. The player from Kildare goes down. This is the

:22:31. > :22:36.kind of territory the Scots don't want to be giving away free hits.

:22:37. > :22:41.No. I don't think Andy Mackintosh meant that, it was just his foot

:22:42. > :22:46.caught the opposition's trailing foot. It will be interesting to see

:22:47. > :22:52.whether Scotland decide to hit it off the ground and try to get two

:22:53. > :22:57.points. Shane do leak has done his damage before so we will see if he

:22:58. > :23:03.still has the radar. He has whacked it. He has put it wide. That is a

:23:04. > :23:08.get out of jail card early on because we know what he can do. We

:23:09. > :23:12.have seen it before. Historically, you have had a big influence in this

:23:13. > :23:17.match. It is surprising he didn't manage to get it over the bar. He

:23:18. > :23:26.pulled it wide unfortunately for him. Chances in the early stages.

:23:27. > :23:29.Always the first quarter, our also, critical for the Scottish team that

:23:30. > :23:32.they get in and they get their tackles in hard and early and they

:23:33. > :23:37.put pressure on the Irish because it does take the Irish a little while

:23:38. > :23:49.to settle down. Ronald Ross knows that. Two shrewd shinty-hurling

:23:50. > :24:00.brains of their day. They know the men the mark. Keen to keep Michael

:24:01. > :24:04.Breen under lock and key. Because if he starts to run the game, that

:24:05. > :24:15.could be a very long afternoon. That is him on the far side. Up it goes.

:24:16. > :24:18.This will be the pattern, the long, high ball, taste of the Scottish

:24:19. > :24:24.defence and they need to clear it better than that. Finlay MacRae,

:24:25. > :24:30.last night's national Player of the Year, one of three brothers in the

:24:31. > :24:36.Scottish pool. His brother Keith is up in the forward line in the

:24:37. > :24:42.starting line-up. Two best fullbacks in the game. This year's Premier

:24:43. > :24:48.League Player of the Year. Steven MacDonald alongside Finlay MacRae

:24:49. > :24:53.and Steven MacDonald tells me he is carrying an injury, he has his knee

:24:54. > :24:59.strapped. When I asked him how he thought it was, he said we will soon

:25:00. > :25:04.find out. I am sure we will. One of the best hitters in the game. There

:25:05. > :25:10.is the evidence. Looking for Keith MacRae but it is too long. Not a

:25:11. > :25:15.breath of wind here. Normally a very strong wind left-to-right but today,

:25:16. > :25:19.it is absolutely still. Perfect condition because often, the wind

:25:20. > :25:24.can spoil a match so it is good it is calm and not an advantage to

:25:25. > :25:30.either team. That is a wasted ball straight out from the Irish keeper.

:25:31. > :25:43.The captain Reilly. No stranger to Bught Park. Not happy obviously,

:25:44. > :25:54.with that. That is beyond midfield. Good chance for Scotland. Certainly,

:25:55. > :25:58.Reilly's distance is good. He will be looking to do something about

:25:59. > :26:07.that. Distance wise, he got a good distance on it. This is so difficult

:26:08. > :26:17.for the Scottish team to tackle. Dylan taking the ball. One-handed.

:26:18. > :26:23.So easy to flick the ball on with an arm and a battle like stick.

:26:24. > :26:31.Scotland trying to use their mobility and their pace and play the

:26:32. > :26:37.ball along the ground. We found some of the under 21 players had

:26:38. > :26:45.difficulty with the surface. These top guns should manage it well. Look

:26:46. > :26:52.at that, taken clean out and away. But it is wide. The game is almost

:26:53. > :26:59.as if an early change here, just below us we see the Irish making a

:27:00. > :27:03.substitute. Seem to be making a change, a tactical switch. Rolling

:27:04. > :27:09.substitutes as the game goes on and we will see this happen all the

:27:10. > :27:13.time, players coming and going. I would say early on, Ireland were

:27:14. > :27:16.quite dangerous upfront although they have not scored, they have

:27:17. > :27:20.settled in fairly well and I think the warning signs. The need to be

:27:21. > :27:22.historically, you have to rack up the points against Ireland because

:27:23. > :27:27.they do get stronger as the game goes on. I think that will be the

:27:28. > :27:31.case, Scotland will have to get in front because Ireland have started

:27:32. > :27:36.quite well and you can only see them getting better as the game goes on.

:27:37. > :27:41.Steven MacDonald has taken a run-up and that can only mean one thing, he

:27:42. > :27:44.is going to go for a goal from her. At the very worst, he will drop it

:27:45. > :27:53.right in front of Reilly in the goal. This is basically from the

:27:54. > :27:57.middle of the field, halfway. Almost by the tunnel. He has got the range

:27:58. > :28:02.and the distance but not quite the accuracy so there is a message. If

:28:03. > :28:06.he's going to do that, he has to start scoring. A good effort from

:28:07. > :28:12.Steven, that is a big distance he is hitting and it wasn't far away. If

:28:13. > :28:16.you can get it in line, the goalkeeper has to deal with it if it

:28:17. > :28:23.drops short. If you're going to be short, it is not a disaster.

:28:24. > :28:33.Dwyer fitting it into midfield, that was a beautiful touch and a high

:28:34. > :28:40.ball but it is wide once again. They asked beginning to pick up the

:28:41. > :28:47.rhythm. The Irish team, fantastically athletic. A nice turn

:28:48. > :28:51.by Michael Breen, he gets the shot off but he just pulled it wide. The

:28:52. > :28:54.signs are there already that Ireland will be strong this year and they

:28:55. > :29:01.will start getting points on the map over the bar. They haven't so far.

:29:02. > :29:07.Steven MacDonald, Scottish full-back, when the ground. That is

:29:08. > :29:10.wide again. That is the threat. Once the momentum is there for the Irish

:29:11. > :29:17.players, as they roll forward, this is what happens. Dwyer with the

:29:18. > :29:23.effort and he seemed to go for the goal, not the points over the bar.

:29:24. > :29:27.Just wide. If that had been a foot inside, it probably would have been

:29:28. > :29:32.an open score for Ireland. The interplay with the Irish forwards is

:29:33. > :29:36.good. The natural instinct of an Irish player is to flick the point

:29:37. > :29:42.through, not be too bothered about the goal at this stage. They like to

:29:43. > :29:52.keep that school -- score board ticking over. They are on the move.

:29:53. > :29:59.Look at that, beautiful skill. Stuart MacDonald in the goal.

:30:00. > :30:09.Scotland had to be very careful because that was dropping right in

:30:10. > :30:15.front of them. Chat has been in the game quite a lot already, picking up

:30:16. > :30:24.a lot. Bain has been told by the Scotland coaching tough, tighten up.

:30:25. > :30:27.-- the Scotland coaching staff. You need to get as close to your man as

:30:28. > :30:35.possible. The closer you are, the less dangerous it is. If you stand

:30:36. > :30:40.off halfway, you are in trouble but if you go right in, it swings right

:30:41. > :30:47.round you and it is all fine. John Barr.

:30:48. > :30:55.You get the feeling the Irish will be content to hold this opening

:30:56. > :30:56.phase of play and then cut loose once they have mastered the

:30:57. > :31:08.conditions. Last year, Scotland started strongly

:31:09. > :31:16.but after 11 minutes here, island have been the better team, despite

:31:17. > :31:20.Scotland having a two point lead. Has dropped into the danger area and

:31:21. > :31:28.flipped over the bar by the keeper. That counts as a point in play. A

:31:29. > :31:36.good effort off the ground. Fantastic effort and on target. We

:31:37. > :31:40.mentioned before, Dwyer is a capable player and Scotland will have to

:31:41. > :31:53.watch him closely. Tipped over the bar, that counts. It is the Irish on

:31:54. > :31:57.the mark with their first point. So the danger signs are there but even

:31:58. > :32:01.from that distance, hitting off the ground, it is a skill the Irish have

:32:02. > :32:06.developed and worked on over the years, hitting off the ground.

:32:07. > :32:12.Certainly looks more difficult than it does in shinty terms but with the

:32:13. > :32:18.angle of the stick and the flick of the wrist takes it up in the air.

:32:19. > :32:22.McDonald had to be careful but again, just wide. Again, the play

:32:23. > :32:28.going left to right more often than not. Fantastic sideline cut, the

:32:29. > :32:35.distance he got on it creates an opportunity. At the moment it is all

:32:36. > :32:38.Ireland and that is ominous for Scotland, traditionally, Scotland

:32:39. > :32:48.have gone into the lead but at the moment, island are pushing forward.

:32:49. > :32:55.This might be one of the answers, McRae, there are three macro blue

:32:56. > :33:02.shirts here. Kevin Bartlett just a bit slow off the mark there. A good

:33:03. > :33:05.tackle. Two Irish players, they are moving in twos, cleverly. If one

:33:06. > :33:12.misses the ball, there is way someone else. Len McIntosh slips

:33:13. > :33:15.outwards. Takes the nudge in the back, knew exactly what he was

:33:16. > :33:22.doing, drawing in the Irish player for a book -- push in the back and

:33:23. > :33:25.get a free hit. Scotland have not been in the game much but Kevin has

:33:26. > :33:31.an opportunity here for another two points. It would not be a reflection

:33:32. > :33:43.of the game so far but you need to take your chances. 14 minutes in or

:33:44. > :33:47.thereabouts. The referee, a bit of off the ball there, I think he felt

:33:48. > :33:52.the Irish player was getting too close and tried to push him back.

:33:53. > :33:57.The defending player, if we call it that, is allowed to charge once the

:33:58. > :34:03.ball is flicked up at all. If they flick it up to run it on, the

:34:04. > :34:11.incoming player can have a go. It is taking your life in your hands. That

:34:12. > :34:15.was our friend from lasted, Damien Healy, he seemed to be involved in

:34:16. > :34:21.every physical tussle and he is back at it again this year. I am sure

:34:22. > :34:28.Roddy will help him out in that respect. Heading on for 15 minutes.

:34:29. > :34:35.He went the goal that time. Well dealt with by Reilly. Always a

:34:36. > :34:40.gamble but from that distance, very difficult to beat the Irish people.

:34:41. > :34:44.Does it surprise you he didn't take the points? I think Kevin would have

:34:45. > :34:49.gone over the bar here but as the first one, he didn't seem to get the

:34:50. > :34:52.height on it so I don't think it was a deliberate effort to go for goal

:34:53. > :34:58.just that he didn't strike the ball as he would like and it dropped

:34:59. > :35:07.short and the keeper dealt with it. Plenty of action off the ball. All

:35:08. > :35:13.kicking off all over the place now. Almost literally nothing between the

:35:14. > :35:19.sides. No goals sent two points to Scotland, no goals and 1.2 Ireland.

:35:20. > :35:28.15 minutes in, 40 minute duration in each half. Slightly shorter than the

:35:29. > :35:33.shinty version of 45 minutes. That is due to the intensity of the game.

:35:34. > :35:40.It is intense and the substitutes will all be used. It is not going to

:35:41. > :35:50.run out. Makes a good job of the clearance. Makes sure he gets it up

:35:51. > :35:53.to virtually halfway. Always really come under pressure, Stuart

:35:54. > :35:55.McDonald, confidence in his own ability, he does the simple thing

:35:56. > :36:09.and gets rid of the ball. Damien Healy, didn't quite get hold

:36:10. > :36:15.of that one. Slightly spongy, the surface. Not getting the whole

:36:16. > :36:20.underneath it. The grass shorter than they are used to, that is well

:36:21. > :36:28.taken. That is a good score from open play. Cha Dwyer again, making

:36:29. > :36:33.it count, the ball breaks across, he is on to it quickly and takes the

:36:34. > :36:48.point for Scotland. If the chances are taken... That takes the scores

:36:49. > :36:54.level, 0- two, 0- two. McRae. Oh, and again. You could see the first

:36:55. > :37:03.tackle, I can see how the player was just late coming in but the second

:37:04. > :37:07.one... The ball comes out, he swings through, to be fair, he didn't carry

:37:08. > :37:10.the swing through, it is the next one on Damien Healy, the whistle had

:37:11. > :37:17.gone when Damien Healy swung there so that was definitely not right. We

:37:18. > :37:22.will see how Kevin hits is, can he get more height on the effort and

:37:23. > :37:27.get it over the bar. The last one, he didn't get it high enough to

:37:28. > :37:30.clear the goalkeeper. That is the view, directly in line, we will get

:37:31. > :37:35.a good view of this because we will see exactly where it is going. The

:37:36. > :37:39.Irish player charging in and he drifted, a little bit of a cut to

:37:40. > :37:48.make sure but a good two point, that is more like we expect from him.

:37:49. > :37:52.Well done by Bartlett. Island are trying to close down sooner is they

:37:53. > :37:55.can and it was be down to Kevin not to let that distract him. A

:37:56. > :38:00.beautiful is like by Kevin, head down over the ball and swing

:38:01. > :38:07.straight through. Wish I had a swing like that. It them and hope.

:38:08. > :38:10.Meanwhile, at the other end, sweet movement off the ball, that is the

:38:11. > :38:16.kind of tackle you need from Stephen McDonald. The stick extended and

:38:17. > :38:22.protecting himself but also catching the Irish man before delivering the

:38:23. > :38:39.ball. And that is when the pressure leads to mistakes.

:38:40. > :38:45.Stephen McDonald again on the sideline, this time he will probably

:38:46. > :38:51.look to drop it into the final third and reach from there. He will be

:38:52. > :38:55.looking to bring Glenn into play. They all have numbers on them and

:38:56. > :38:59.the numbers relate to the players numbers on them back so they will

:39:00. > :39:03.know right away. In the coaches here from Ireland won't necessarily know

:39:04. > :39:08.some of these players because they are from all over Ireland so they

:39:09. > :39:13.will have the number to know that. There was a day where you would be

:39:14. > :39:21.given one and told to get on with it. The facilities are there. We

:39:22. > :39:26.heard the message there, they are on top, that is what they think. And I

:39:27. > :39:35.think they are right but the school doesn't reflect it. 4-2, Scotland

:39:36. > :39:37.lead. -- the score. Another opportunity now for Scotland on the

:39:38. > :39:45.far side, from the touchline. Stephen McDonald taking all due care

:39:46. > :39:52.and attention. Inside the Irish half, just. Drop six short this

:39:53. > :39:57.time. And Scotland, you see the tactic, even if it is dropping wide,

:39:58. > :40:03.it was possible to have a go and knock it back into play. It was, it

:40:04. > :40:07.goes to the right-hand side of the goal. McRae does really well but the

:40:08. > :40:11.ball was out of place even before he could get on it. Scotland have to

:40:12. > :40:18.make these opportunities count. If you knock them over the bar, you

:40:19. > :40:25.have to try and keep them in play. Up it goes again. They've got the

:40:26. > :40:28.distance on the measure of that but not the accuracy we would quite

:40:29. > :40:34.expect of the Irish team at this stage. Another opportunity goes

:40:35. > :40:38.wide. At the moment, the game is that way where both sides are

:40:39. > :40:44.playing OK, island certainly with the best of it but neither team is

:40:45. > :40:51.really making it count on the scoreboard. No player sticking his

:40:52. > :40:56.hand up and causing havoc yet. Here is a chance for Scotland. Bartlett

:40:57. > :41:03.pulls down. Look where the ball ended up in the net eventually. It

:41:04. > :41:09.was done and dusted but he is claiming his shirt was pulled as

:41:10. > :41:14.well. 61, half a dozen of the other. Kevin did well, it is a 50-50 and

:41:15. > :41:19.Kevin wrapped his arm around Irish players and it looks like the Irish

:41:20. > :41:22.player had fouled him. They are complaining a bit, he certainly

:41:23. > :41:28.didn't think it was a foul but Kevin has the ball. Again, this is what

:41:29. > :41:32.makes it count, if he can get this two points, Scotland will have a 6-2

:41:33. > :41:37.lead and they can barely justify that with the possession Ireland

:41:38. > :41:40.have had. The foul would have been all and sundry on the big screen as

:41:41. > :41:48.well so everybody knows that Bartlett has got away with one here.

:41:49. > :41:57.Now that took a touch so it is only one point four that. You can see how

:41:58. > :42:02.the Irish player rushed him there. It is the second player who got the

:42:03. > :42:08.deflection. It was indeed. He just catches the top of his Hurley. That

:42:09. > :42:17.was a good intervention because it saved Ireland a point. Small

:42:18. > :42:23.margins. I did see in the under 21 match, players and the elevation of

:42:24. > :42:27.the dead ball, it is like the surface is sticky in some way. The

:42:28. > :42:36.players will just have to combat that. No prisoners being taken and

:42:37. > :42:43.no quarter given or asked. Just a little touch, sending the ball 30 or

:42:44. > :42:49.40 yards up the field. The Scotland defence standing firm. And he gave

:42:50. > :42:55.it everything there. That is a very sore Irish lake there. Have a look

:42:56. > :43:01.at it, a chance for Scotland, Roddy McDonald. High and between the posts

:43:02. > :43:08.and you would have expected a little bit better. I think psychologically,

:43:09. > :43:13.the Scotland players, Kevin's swing, the ball was there, he got away with

:43:14. > :43:17.it, played it through. Glenn tries to move in and Roddy is onto it, now

:43:18. > :43:22.it is a big chance, he stretches really well but just too high. It is

:43:23. > :43:25.a point but they would have been looking to get three points for

:43:26. > :43:37.Scotland by hitting the back of the net. You would expect them to get it

:43:38. > :43:41.on target. A chance gone begging. Some of the off the ball stuff is

:43:42. > :43:45.very interesting actually. The players trying to get the upper

:43:46. > :43:51.hand, it all counts to the next tackle I suppose. Look at the number

:43:52. > :43:56.of players in midfield, it is astonishing. A nice turn again. But

:43:57. > :43:59.you have to put that down to technique. The wind is not

:44:00. > :44:06.interfering with play at all. Definitely not. Dwyer again going

:44:07. > :44:09.forward, pressed by Daniel Cameron. From an Irish perspective, the

:44:10. > :44:15.shinty stick is a bit longer and when you get hit by the shinty

:44:16. > :44:22.stick, it is far more painful, it is laminated, a more solid stick. Some

:44:23. > :44:25.guys are thoroughly bit wary of the stick getting close to them and is

:44:26. > :44:30.affecting their composure when it comes to points. A great run and

:44:31. > :44:34.McDonald comes out. The ball goes to ground, it is in the ruck of

:44:35. > :44:41.players, Stephen McDonald trying to get it away. Not the biggest man on

:44:42. > :44:44.the field, the goalkeeper and that he certainly punched above his

:44:45. > :44:50.weight there and fired back in from the side. That is a point from open

:44:51. > :44:54.play, a fantastic point from a way out there. It is Shane Dooley with

:44:55. > :45:01.the point from the touchline out there. It was actually Shane Nolan

:45:02. > :45:05.who ran through Rhyl you well. Stuart McDonald came at and blocked

:45:06. > :45:08.him, Scotland struggled to get it clear and Shane Dooley from that

:45:09. > :45:14.angle, a really good single point he took there. Flicking it up, best to

:45:15. > :45:19.close him down, you can see the acute angle he is shooting from, a

:45:20. > :45:30.well taken point. Absolutely nothing the goalkeeper can do that. The

:45:31. > :45:36.referee lets it go. Scotland get it away. This time just a little bit

:45:37. > :45:45.obvious. Shoulder to shoulder is fine. Most other things are fine but

:45:46. > :45:52.not a push in the back. This is a save from earlier. Watch the

:45:53. > :45:58.goalkeeper. He made sure that either the man or the ball was not getting

:45:59. > :46:06.past and he got both. Eventually, the McDonald completes the

:46:07. > :46:13.clearance. He liked that. Pick on someone your own size. Just a

:46:14. > :46:17.question as to whether Ronald Ross was making a substitution there, no

:46:18. > :46:18.was the answer. McDonald delivers bound into the corner trying to

:46:19. > :46:31.stretch the Irish defence. Scott Law wasting some of the

:46:32. > :46:36.possession at the moment. There is a substitution here though. --

:46:37. > :46:48.Scotland wasting some of the possession. Trying to see who has

:46:49. > :46:59.gone off, somebody has or is. I can't see anyone going off,

:47:00. > :47:05.actually. There is MacRae going off just behind us.

:47:06. > :47:16.Lovely play by the Irish. It is not all big blasts and knocks, there are

:47:17. > :47:22.some lovely touches, superb skills. This is the direct approach though,

:47:23. > :47:29.dangerous ball, well taken. Through the midfield. Just this lack of

:47:30. > :47:32.precision in the Scottish passing at the moment. Andy Mackintosh having

:47:33. > :47:42.to come back and work very hard. The Irish colour on the far side,

:47:43. > :47:48.Michael Breen, a touch of something special. Technically, I think he is

:47:49. > :47:52.allowed to get away with it but this is what he did, keep your eye on the

:47:53. > :48:00.helmet. It is his face guard actually. Brave man! In shinty, that

:48:01. > :48:08.would normally be a foul. Because you put yourself in danger. Another

:48:09. > :48:14.sideline cut for Ireland and audibly, if he strikes it well, it

:48:15. > :48:18.is in a reachable distance for him. Scotland defender get with three men

:48:19. > :48:20.at the back. Once Bearman to try to pick up the second bowl is the first

:48:21. > :48:27.offenders get it. Didn't quite get a handle on that

:48:28. > :48:39.one. He has got it again. Still comes

:48:40. > :48:45.away with the ball and he has got it up on his stick, danger for

:48:46. > :48:51.Scotland. Turning the wrong way, facing the goal and the sticks are

:48:52. > :48:57.flying. The referee says it is a Scottish free-hit.

:48:58. > :49:07.Lee Bain goes to clear land Divilly grabs him by the arm. That was a

:49:08. > :49:15.foul and Scotland benefit to clear their lines. Good play by Chabert

:49:16. > :49:29.wire. That is the kind of pressure you see in hurling all the time.

:49:30. > :49:37.All part of the trick of having to adapt to the compromise rules. The

:49:38. > :49:42.Irish not allowed to kick or catch the ball as they would normally be

:49:43. > :49:48.allowed to do. Sometimes, you see a hand going up or a kick. Just by the

:49:49. > :49:57.nature of the custom and practice from their own game. That is a huge

:49:58. > :50:05.hit again. Ten minutes left for one of these teams to make a mark in the

:50:06. > :50:10.first half. Again, just snatching at it, Dwyer, again but he is key in

:50:11. > :50:15.midfield, getting a lot of the ball. He seems to be finding a lot of

:50:16. > :50:19.space and Scotland haven't really taken advantage of the spacey sound

:50:20. > :50:22.because he has had a lot of opportunities in goals but most have

:50:23. > :50:29.gone wide. The worry is how much space is finding. Why is he finding

:50:30. > :50:30.it? If he is taking these opportunities, Scotland would

:50:31. > :50:45.probably be behind at the moment. The crowd are very close to the

:50:46. > :50:52.action. Good gathering of folk sprinkled all around the field.

:50:53. > :50:56.Pleasant conditions. Three matches at Bught Park, it has brought a lot

:50:57. > :51:04.of people out, and encouraging crowd. One of the key things in this

:51:05. > :51:09.game is to be first to the ball, you must do that. At the moment, when

:51:10. > :51:12.the ball comes through, Ireland are first to all the breaking balls and

:51:13. > :51:18.Scotland are having to chase them. Scotland need to try to come around.

:51:19. > :51:22.You must be first to the ball. At the moment, Ireland are making the

:51:23. > :51:29.most of that. They are hunting impacts as well.

:51:30. > :51:40.Beautiful skills from the back. Launching it. James Toher a

:51:41. > :51:46.commanding presence at the back. There are three ships around John

:51:47. > :51:52.Barr because they know they need to control him midfield. That is maybe

:51:53. > :51:55.slightly soft. Paul Divilly put a bit of pressure on him but again,

:51:56. > :52:04.that experience of John Barr, pressure on him and this would give

:52:05. > :52:13.him the foul. If Kevin Bartlett puts this over the bar, it will be 8-3 to

:52:14. > :52:16.Scotland. Another good view of Kevin Bartlett's hit, look at the Irish

:52:17. > :52:23.player going to launch himself at him. This time there is no doubt at

:52:24. > :52:28.all, it is that beautiful golf swing of Kevin Bartlett, and other two

:52:29. > :52:37.points to him, eight points to Scotland. They lead 8-3. Exceptional

:52:38. > :52:43.hit by Kevin Bartlett. I am not backed up on golf terminology but he

:52:44. > :52:49.has hit that with a slight fade. Here egos, plans his foot and head

:52:50. > :53:02.over the ball, swings right through. -- here he goes. Let's see the

:53:03. > :53:07.balance of the Irish attack. Scotland seem to have conceded

:53:08. > :53:11.midfield and just left it. Acres of space in midfield for both teams to

:53:12. > :53:16.exploit but they are just not using it, just taking midfield out of the

:53:17. > :53:35.equation entirely. The wood is flying. Bang. Up it goes. Some

:53:36. > :53:38.tackling. It is just ferocious. The referee is stepping in here because

:53:39. > :53:46.that is a little bit over the line, I think. Michael Breen was involved

:53:47. > :53:50.in the two instances. He challenged with Cameron and I think he got

:53:51. > :53:56.caught in the face by Michael. He just gets him in the mouth. Frasser

:53:57. > :54:00.Heath comes in and tackled him and gets the tackle in but there is a

:54:01. > :54:07.kick by Michael Breen and that is worthy of a booking certainly.

:54:08. > :54:15.Michael Breen, he is a big, powerful athlete from Tipperary and making

:54:16. > :54:19.his presence felt. You suspect he has another year as well because I

:54:20. > :54:27.don't think we have seen the best of him so for. A beautiful hit again.

:54:28. > :54:36.MacDonald is on Twitter but not quite quickly enough. The Irish

:54:37. > :54:40.under pressure. -- McDonald is on it.

:54:41. > :54:51.They will hope they can create space freighter goal or another point. Put

:54:52. > :54:54.them under pressure. Now, you will try from the sideline, Bartlett and

:54:55. > :55:00.he is taking it back, understandably, as far as he can. To

:55:01. > :55:09.get a better angle. This, from the shape of his shot, is difficult but

:55:10. > :55:12.not unachievable. Look at the right-hand post, Kevin Will aim at

:55:13. > :55:25.that and look to fade it to the left. That will be his line. Cut it

:55:26. > :55:29.in on the left-hand side. The Irish goalkeeper waggling the posts,

:55:30. > :55:34.trying to make it as difficult as possible. And he has done it, a

:55:35. > :55:40.spectacular finish, he bent it around between the two posts.

:55:41. > :55:52.Exceptional, head down, the ball is up on a nice if -- divot. Kevin

:55:53. > :55:58.Bartlett is proving to be the difference in this game so far. He

:55:59. > :56:04.did the opposite of what we expected, hitting it pretty

:56:05. > :56:10.straight. Two points, Scotland lead 10-3 heading for the interval. That

:56:11. > :56:17.might... But hasn't... It is again wide. Not quite got the accuracy at

:56:18. > :56:25.all. We expect better of the Irish forwards in the midfield. I think

:56:26. > :56:28.another thing we must be aware of the major thing is that they can't

:56:29. > :56:32.handle the ball and usually when they would go to hit the ball over

:56:33. > :56:36.the bar, they would take it from their hand and distribute it to the

:56:37. > :56:40.sticks. They have to use the stick to get the distance over the bar and

:56:41. > :56:45.it is not coming that easily to them at the moment. But they get there,

:56:46. > :56:48.we have seen before. You wait coverage to the second half, they

:56:49. > :56:54.will find their range when they have to do. That is a good tackle. It is

:56:55. > :57:00.the kind of tackle you need at the back to keep the ball... That is a

:57:01. > :57:05.lovely touch into Steven MacDonald. And again, again... If I was being

:57:06. > :57:11.cynical, I would say the Scotland are playing for this, they know the

:57:12. > :57:17.Irish players will be at their back. He is first to the ball, close to

:57:18. > :57:21.the Irish player. If you get there first, your opponent has to decide

:57:22. > :57:26.the jockey or try to tackle and Damien Healy put the pressure on the

:57:27. > :57:32.back and over went Thomas. This is again within distance for Kevin. The

:57:33. > :57:38.referee indicated there are two and a half minutes left. Ronald Ross had

:57:39. > :57:44.a wry smile, pacing up and down, he knew exactly what had happened. You

:57:45. > :57:52.can imagine him schooling his young prodigy Borthwick. Off it goes. This

:57:53. > :57:59.time, it is wide. He will be disappointed with that. A little

:58:00. > :58:05.wide. He caught it slightly heavy. He may be just caught the ground.

:58:06. > :58:09.Just pulled it slightly right, maybe distance wise, he felt he was right

:58:10. > :58:15.at the end of his range and tried a bit harder. Any further out than

:58:16. > :58:22.that and you would expect Steven MacDonald the come forward and take

:58:23. > :58:34.it. A debate I think, someone has suggested the ball went through and

:58:35. > :58:42.in -- Innes Wood was checking. No goals for Scotland but they will

:58:43. > :58:49.come. There is a classic shot, I almost said a classic score. It

:58:50. > :58:56.looked good. As it left the club. As it left the caman. But score. This

:58:57. > :59:00.is what you would expect. It just goes wide and that is the key

:59:01. > :59:06.factor, they are having to play it from their stick into the air.

:59:07. > :59:10.Usually, they would catch it and distribute it and clean strike it.

:59:11. > :59:14.At the moment, it is costing them because these missed opportunities

:59:15. > :59:18.are the reason why they are behind. The only thing against Scotland at

:59:19. > :59:25.the moment is the sun. Thinking ahead, that could be important in

:59:26. > :59:28.the second half of this glorious autumn of Inverness because Scotland

:59:29. > :59:32.will have the advantage in the second half. You can see the kind of

:59:33. > :59:41.effect it has on the shadow of Ronald Ross. MacDonald already has

:59:42. > :59:45.his cap on, having to deal with it, so the Irish goalkeeper will have to

:59:46. > :59:48.deal with it in the second half. Particularly with dropping balls.

:59:49. > :59:52.These three are dropping just under the bar and they will be difficult

:59:53. > :59:54.to deal with because he is trying to find the ball and players coming in

:59:55. > :00:07.on top of him and challenging him. Innes Wood has called it a day

:00:08. > :00:10.because that is it in terms of the first half. Scotland have exceeded

:00:11. > :00:17.all expectations in terms of the possession. A succession of points,

:00:18. > :00:21.well taken by Bartlett who has been the key to Scotland's position in

:00:22. > :00:28.the first. Under the cosh for part of the time but never really in

:00:29. > :00:31.trouble in terms of threats. Scotland have defended well and

:00:32. > :00:36.conceded three points, only three separate scores, a single point and

:00:37. > :00:41.double point and then another double. Shane Dooley getting the

:00:42. > :00:46.third one which has taken us to the interval where the score at Bught

:00:47. > :00:47.Park in Inverness at the Marine Harvest international is Scotland

:00:48. > :01:06.10-3 Ireland. Our three wise men have become two

:01:07. > :01:12.because of phrase of being in the commentary box. Your thoughts on the

:01:13. > :01:16.first half? Well played Scotland. They have dealt with challenges.

:01:17. > :01:21.Ireland have been physical and have had a hands-on approach. Scotland

:01:22. > :01:24.have adapted and taken that in their stride and come back and Kenny

:01:25. > :01:31.Bartlett has been on form when needed. The significance for the

:01:32. > :01:39.Scotland team at the start of this match, it was what we predicted at

:01:40. > :01:44.the start of the programme. The we knew what we were talking about. He

:01:45. > :01:47.started well, one of the free hips, it was taken back and he didn't

:01:48. > :01:52.actually get it over the bar. But on a number of occasions, doing his job

:01:53. > :01:58.and what he does best the fade inside the post and he his having an

:01:59. > :02:04.excellent day for Scotland. What did you think of his early contribution?

:02:05. > :02:10.He has more points than anyone else, stayed true to form, kept on scoring

:02:11. > :02:18.the points and getting the points on the board for Scotland at half-time.

:02:19. > :02:22.It was heartening for the crowd to see him, and we were talking about

:02:23. > :02:29.the start of the programme as well, Roddy McDonald has played his part.

:02:30. > :02:34.Unlucky not to get bought -- goal when the ball fell to him. Scotland

:02:35. > :02:38.playing well at the moment. If they can carry this for the next 40

:02:39. > :02:45.minutes it will be a good win for Scotland. How heartening has it been

:02:46. > :02:48.to watch? It has been wonderful. You can see a great team spirit and the

:02:49. > :02:52.Scotland team this year. They are working for each other and the big

:02:53. > :02:56.thing that is disappointing is when you work so hard and get an

:02:57. > :03:01.opportunity to convert points and don't convert them, that sends

:03:02. > :03:05.messages to the team of uncertainty. But each time that is happening,

:03:06. > :03:13.Kevin partnered is there to foot it over the bar. It comes out with in

:03:14. > :03:17.waves through the team. The island got on the scoreboard, what have you

:03:18. > :03:23.made of their showing? They will be disappointed they haven't converted

:03:24. > :03:29.more, they have had a lot of wides. It is a great skill from the hull to

:03:30. > :03:33.cut as high as that, going full two points instead of one. They might be

:03:34. > :03:37.better to try and flick and put it over for the one and keep the

:03:38. > :03:44.scoreboard ticking over. But the more they do that, the more it works

:03:45. > :03:48.in Scotland's favour. Island have had their chances in this match, but

:03:49. > :03:53.on occasion, they have not been able to take all of their chances. It has

:03:54. > :03:56.been uncharacteristic of them because if they have half a chance

:03:57. > :04:00.in the Scotland half usually, they will put points on the board. They

:04:01. > :04:04.have had a lot of chances but been missing them. We will see something

:04:05. > :04:10.in the second half where they try and get more points. They kept on

:04:11. > :04:15.trying their chances and it didn't quite come for them, that must be

:04:16. > :04:21.frustrated for them? Get when you work hard and not take your chances,

:04:22. > :04:24.it creates a wave through the team. Ireland are playing extremely well,

:04:25. > :04:29.they are passing well. Another opportunity snatched, you can see

:04:30. > :04:33.them getting frustrated with each other and their efforts. McDonald

:04:34. > :04:38.watches that one go by without any threat. It is not just the senior

:04:39. > :04:44.shinty hurling international taking place today, earlier before this

:04:45. > :04:52.match took place it was the under 21 team, the Scottish under 21 shinty

:04:53. > :04:58.team taking on the Irish under 21 hurling team. Went pretty much as

:04:59. > :05:02.expected, always a big gap between the sides physically because the

:05:03. > :05:07.Irish side seem to be more developed physically. The first Irish goal and

:05:08. > :05:10.was taken well by Jack Sheridan, outstripping the Scotland defence

:05:11. > :05:15.and not giving them any chance to defend the goal at all. Then a lot

:05:16. > :05:19.of pressure leading to this fantastic run from Tom Fox of

:05:20. > :05:24.Tipperary who finished in some style to put the Irish well ahead. Really

:05:25. > :05:29.he was one of the key differences between the two sites. The pressure

:05:30. > :05:34.was incessant on Scotland but they stood firm. Watch this for a save

:05:35. > :05:42.from the Inveraray goalkeeper, Scott McLaughlin. He was like the Dutch

:05:43. > :05:46.boy with his finger in the dying, eventually it came 28 minutes into

:05:47. > :05:52.the half, scrambled goal eventually but it was Will Cowie who forced the

:05:53. > :05:56.ball over the line to give the Scottish team some heart because by

:05:57. > :06:01.then they were under the cosh. The Irish were relentless in their

:06:02. > :06:07.pressure. This time it was a Tipperary man, Andrew Coffey with

:06:08. > :06:11.the third goal at half-time, Ireland had scored three goals to one and

:06:12. > :06:19.led 16-9. Scotland hit back again with Charlie McDonald, number 13 for

:06:20. > :06:23.the Scottish team, who got them back in the game. Still hope but the

:06:24. > :06:31.Irish extinguished that eventually after they had traded points. They

:06:32. > :06:38.made it 17-23 and then it finished 17-30 with Ireland celebrating in

:06:39. > :06:43.the under 21 international. That didn't go so well. And and did not

:06:44. > :06:47.go well for Scotland in the women's version of hurling. It was a

:06:48. > :06:53.Scotland team up against the Dublin selector and unfortunately the

:06:54. > :06:58.Scotland they lost 12-2. That took place earlier today. So far things

:06:59. > :07:05.going better for the men's senior team. The silverware going to the

:07:06. > :07:09.Irish there though. A quick break from the match itself because last

:07:10. > :07:14.night was a big night in the world of shinty with a big awards ceremony

:07:15. > :07:18.for the season 's best players. The best player of the shinty season

:07:19. > :07:25.went to Finley Macrae, I caught up with him last night. It means a lot.

:07:26. > :07:31.A lot of good players have got this in the past, to be amongst that I am

:07:32. > :07:38.delighted. A good year. How would you sum up this year? It has been

:07:39. > :07:41.quite a momentous one? Brilliant for everyone involved. We felt in the

:07:42. > :07:46.last few years that we under achieved a bit so this year, we

:07:47. > :07:50.upped it a bit and we should be challenging for cups and at the top

:07:51. > :07:54.of the league. It has been a good day for everyone involved and hope

:07:55. > :07:58.it will continue with more hard work. What does it mean to have

:07:59. > :08:02.Sonny Kenwood shield players involved in the Scotland team in

:08:03. > :08:08.this massive match? It is always good to be with your team-mates at

:08:09. > :08:12.club level for an international. There is a whole buzz around our

:08:13. > :08:17.area. I don't think we have ever had so many internationals in the team.

:08:18. > :08:21.It is a proud feeling and it is really good. Scotland have done well

:08:22. > :08:26.in recent times, how confident are you ahead of the match? Very

:08:27. > :08:32.confident. All of the players know what they are doing and well

:08:33. > :08:37.drilled. We just have to show it on the day that we can do it and we

:08:38. > :08:44.have proved that in recent years. It will not be easy but we are

:08:45. > :08:50.confident. The second half is about to get underway. COMMENTATOR: And

:08:51. > :08:56.the referee has changed T-shirt just to make it a little bit clearer that

:08:57. > :09:00.he is the official in charge. He was looking much like the Scottish team

:09:01. > :09:03.in the first half. Scotland defending the goal to our left,

:09:04. > :09:11.Scotland hitting from left to right as we watched the match. 10-3 at

:09:12. > :09:15.highest time, no goals at all in the first half. That in the way is a bit

:09:16. > :09:22.of a surprise but we know the goals will come. Yes, defensive times, you

:09:23. > :09:25.want the ball to go in the net, I think Ireland will come out really

:09:26. > :09:30.hard in the first ten minutes of the second half and try and get back in

:09:31. > :09:35.contention. To be fair, there has not been anything in it with the

:09:36. > :09:39.territory, but the scoreboard tells a different story. Ireland will be

:09:40. > :09:47.really determined to get back into this game and try and win it. Some

:09:48. > :09:58.shenanigans at midfield between the Scottish captain... There you go,

:09:59. > :10:03.sorted. Just like that. Interesting exchange and maybe an indication of

:10:04. > :10:08.the intensity of the game as the referee struggles, I wouldn't say he

:10:09. > :10:12.is struggling but trying to exert his authority with his new yellow

:10:13. > :10:21.shirt and yellow boots, matching colours. I notice he hasn't tucked

:10:22. > :10:31.his shirt in. Some flying would there. Shattered timber on the far

:10:32. > :10:37.side. Carry on is the cry. You get the feeling that the pace has been

:10:38. > :10:43.upped straightaway. Steven McDonald was under that and gets a second

:10:44. > :10:53.chance. The Irish picket up in midfield. A helmet flying now. Down

:10:54. > :11:00.they come, Cha Dwyer did not quite get hold of the player going for the

:11:01. > :11:04.12. And a hefty challenge, the Scottish defenders are losing their

:11:05. > :11:07.composure slightly here. Another shattered stick and even with a

:11:08. > :11:14.broken stick, what a save and a second time. The second time, it is

:11:15. > :11:18.disallowed, the goal is disallowed. What a period of play that was.

:11:19. > :11:22.Starting with a shattered stick and I think I am right in saying, it was

:11:23. > :11:29.the broken stick he used to fire the shot in. Michael Green takes the

:11:30. > :11:34.first shot, great save by Stuart McDonald. And number 18 was in an

:11:35. > :11:41.offside position, he was in the circle before the ball. The swing in

:11:42. > :11:46.by Michael Breen, number two get the shot and a fantastic save. The

:11:47. > :11:49.intensity definitely upped at the start of the second half, the

:11:50. > :11:57.challenges even more ferocious than the first. The Irish have fired a

:11:58. > :12:01.few cannons already, some meaty challenges. There is another one. I

:12:02. > :12:07.don't know what they put in the tea at half-time but it has worked.

:12:08. > :12:16.Scotland battling away. The sun has gone so that is not as much of an

:12:17. > :12:23.advantage as we thought it might be. It is all happening on the far side.

:12:24. > :12:31.Some great entertainment for people just a few feet away from it. They

:12:32. > :12:40.are right in the line, James Taylor I think not it over the line, there

:12:41. > :12:44.is the line there. Another chance for Kevin Bartlett from the side.

:12:45. > :12:48.This is certainly within his range. Patrick Kelly from Kerry coming out

:12:49. > :12:59.to try and block him and put pressure on him. Bartlett from the

:13:00. > :13:06.far side. A tight angle. Fires it low and it is wide. Didn't quite get

:13:07. > :13:12.a grip of it. We will look at the disallowed goal again. Already you

:13:13. > :13:16.will see the left-hand side, number 18 in the circle. You are not

:13:17. > :13:21.allowed to be in that circle before the ball enters the circle. He was

:13:22. > :13:25.in it before the first initial shot came in so he was completely

:13:26. > :13:29.offside. Not just a little bit. That is why the goal was disallowed. You

:13:30. > :13:35.have to have the patience for the ball to go into the circle before

:13:36. > :13:39.you enter. All a matter of timing, split-second decision to go in and

:13:40. > :13:45.anticipate or not. The Irish, Glenn McIntosh has been kept very quiet.

:13:46. > :13:53.They know the threat he poses. Probably the best finisher in the

:13:54. > :13:56.Premier League at the moment. Another helmet or some sort of

:13:57. > :14:04.protection gone there. Maybe a hand guard. It is a boot actually. Damien

:14:05. > :14:09.Healy did well, driving forward, then he came under quite a bit of

:14:10. > :14:14.pressure from the Scotland players. He goes forward there. He slips but

:14:15. > :14:17.he kept going and not putting pressure on him and try to retain

:14:18. > :14:22.possession of the ball. At that stage, Scotland fouled him and a

:14:23. > :14:26.chance for over the bar from Ireland, quite far out, he will do

:14:27. > :14:30.well to reach and get it over the bar from there. Shane Dooley

:14:31. > :14:34.certainly capable of putting it over the bar from here but we will see

:14:35. > :14:39.how he gets on. Watch the balance and rhythm as he flicks it up and

:14:40. > :14:45.leeches the shot, he has kept it low, making it looking for a

:14:46. > :14:51.deflection. Stuart McDonald was quick off his line to dispatch the

:14:52. > :14:54.ball out to the side. That is an interesting tactic that they didn't

:14:55. > :15:00.go to take the point but create the opportunity for the goal. I am not

:15:01. > :15:02.convinced, I think what has happened with Ireland, when they flicked the

:15:03. > :15:07.ball up, they would normally step forward with the ball and the

:15:08. > :15:10.momentum and they would put the ball up maybe two metres in front of

:15:11. > :15:13.them, step forward onto it, you cannot do that here, you have to

:15:14. > :15:20.lift and strike so they can't generate the same amount of power

:15:21. > :15:24.into the strike. The Scottish defenders are onto it, they have

:15:25. > :15:33.forced the mistake, the ball coming into midfield and then the second

:15:34. > :15:39.tackle. One-handed hurling there. Just a small bodycheck to create the

:15:40. > :15:43.space. They are quite intent and quite happy to play it backwards if

:15:44. > :15:49.it means playing another player into a better position. The ball

:15:50. > :15:54.underneath the body and deemed to be a foul, stopping the play. This is

:15:55. > :15:59.great skill. Beautiful composure on the ball, sales around Roddy

:16:00. > :16:04.McDonald, Roddy gets back at him though, managing to get the

:16:05. > :16:13.challenge in and blocks it. This is a good opportunity, well within...

:16:14. > :16:17.The referee explaining what Fraser Ingles explained earlier that if he

:16:18. > :16:21.picks it up, he can't move and uses own weight and momentum, he has to

:16:22. > :16:26.do it from a standing start and there is the result, it is not so

:16:27. > :16:29.easy. Not the natural inclination or the natural way of playing it. It

:16:30. > :16:36.makes it very difficult for them to do what they normally would do.

:16:37. > :16:42.He went to the ground strike and it was a poor effort. Ireland paying

:16:43. > :16:48.the price for not making the most of the set pieces. That is vital and

:16:49. > :16:52.that really is the difference so far today. Scotland have made the most

:16:53. > :16:58.of theirs whereas Ireland simply have not and that is the difference

:16:59. > :17:02.in the score line. Steven MacDonald, another one on the left hand side

:17:03. > :17:08.and the far side in front of the main stand and that has taken a

:17:09. > :17:15.deflection. It was off and Irish caman and Kevin Bartlett trots over

:17:16. > :17:19.and I think the rolling subs, both sets of management teams are allowed

:17:20. > :17:25.to chop and change their teams, very important they do that. This is

:17:26. > :17:28.Bartlett here, having a look to see what particular change the Irish are

:17:29. > :17:33.making but we will keep an eye on Bartlett. Innes Wood has stopped the

:17:34. > :17:41.game to clarify how many players we have on or not. The changes, Shane

:17:42. > :17:45.Nolan has gone up front, from Kerry, gone up into the forward line. This

:17:46. > :17:58.is Bartlett. Off it goes and again, I think it

:17:59. > :18:07.got a deflection. Another hefty challenge and this is closer, well

:18:08. > :18:12.within his range. On initial viewing of that, I don't know if there was

:18:13. > :18:17.much in it. The swing from Patrick Kelly but the ball was certainly

:18:18. > :18:21.there. It was a strong challenge but Scotland were slightly fortunate to

:18:22. > :18:27.get that I would say. The Irish not happy with that decision. There is a

:18:28. > :18:33.ball in the net so we get that one out so there is no confusion.

:18:34. > :18:38.Bartlett with a great chance here. Still a debate about the decision

:18:39. > :18:44.but it is too late now because the ball is at Bartlett's feet ready to

:18:45. > :18:49.go. This time, he sends it high, straight and handsome. That gets

:18:50. > :18:58.Scotland up and running in the second half. 12-3. Again, close

:18:59. > :19:01.range for him, get it up quickly so the Irish defender can't walk in and

:19:02. > :19:07.it sails between the posts, climbs really quick and in between the

:19:08. > :19:11.posts. The Irish have set it in motion again and they will want to

:19:12. > :19:16.respond to that. Stuart MacDonald weights and takes it down, beautiful

:19:17. > :19:23.play, beautifully sent out where Steven MacDonald could pick it up.

:19:24. > :19:28.Safety first but well dealt with, he can't catch it but just slap it down

:19:29. > :19:34.and knock it away and he did it all in one movement, almost like a

:19:35. > :19:39.hurling goalkeeper. These tackles are enormous. There is a shinty

:19:40. > :19:42.stick on, Andy Mackintosh creating the chance and it is just behind but

:19:43. > :19:51.unfortunately having to turn which gives the Irish defender a chance to

:19:52. > :19:57.take it. Brought to a shuddering halt, a bone shuddering halt. Down

:19:58. > :20:04.on the touchline. Innes Wood will have word. James Toher had a

:20:05. > :20:12.beautiful run. Frasser Heath completely takes him out of the run.

:20:13. > :20:20.Another opportunity for Ireland, getting the points over the bar.

:20:21. > :20:24.Stuart MacDonald just knocked it out knowing the full-back would deal

:20:25. > :20:28.with it. It is not a traditional corner, if you put it out over the

:20:29. > :20:31.sideline, it is a good opportunity to get points over the bar so great

:20:32. > :20:36.presence of thought from Stuart MacDonald. Smart play and good

:20:37. > :20:42.coaching I think. It will have been drummed into them not to give away

:20:43. > :20:49.what we would call corners. Because they are effectively free-hits. That

:20:50. > :20:55.is a mistake in the Irish defence. A chance here. Scotland trying to put

:20:56. > :20:59.pressure on and they managed to take three Scottish players out with one

:21:00. > :21:13.movement. Scotland have it again, Roddy MacDonald. Brought the ground.

:21:14. > :21:22.Every time Kelly goes near the ball he seems to get a foul against him.

:21:23. > :21:25.Not a lot in it. I think Scotland know it is vital to get first

:21:26. > :21:29.possession of the ball and they knew for sure opponent to try to get the

:21:30. > :21:34.ball off you and if he does put any pressure on you, it is a chance to

:21:35. > :21:40.go over and asks the question of Innes Wood, am I getting a foul and

:21:41. > :21:41.so far, he has given a lot of fouls in these situations and Scotland

:21:42. > :21:54.have cottoned onto that. Steven MacDonald fires it away and

:21:55. > :22:03.fires wide as far as I can see. Yes. And again, a chance missed, chance

:22:04. > :22:06.goes begging. He has got the length without a doubt and the technique,

:22:07. > :22:16.everything bar the finishing accuracy. That is good play. Almost

:22:17. > :22:21.a good tackle by Roddy MacDonald. You only get one chance to get the

:22:22. > :22:33.ball away in this game. Flashing sticks. This is a one-on-one with

:22:34. > :22:38.Steven MacDonald. That is good defending. A little kick out I

:22:39. > :22:42.think. They will want to see this in the replay because I suspect... I

:22:43. > :22:51.think he got away with it. I think they have given the free Ireland.

:22:52. > :23:02.Watch how it finishes. They have given it for the foul presumably

:23:03. > :23:08.because he did kick it out. He felt he had to. He was under pressure.

:23:09. > :23:12.This is a good chance, will he give it a blast? He did. Well stopped by

:23:13. > :23:17.the Scottish defence, they were ready for it but the chance is still

:23:18. > :23:21.there and again, the second ball from play, they converted it. It

:23:22. > :23:29.went over the bar from open play, one point. The first score of the

:23:30. > :23:39.second half, remarkable. Micky Boyle from Kerry the first to react.

:23:40. > :23:43.Mackintosh gets the clearance on it. The ball comes to Micky Boyle and he

:23:44. > :23:48.gets the point over the bar. Ireland's first point which is very

:23:49. > :23:54.poor for them. A few Irish men are hobbling.

:23:55. > :24:04.Cha Dwyer has taken a knock. Roddy MacDonald getting involved. Now they

:24:05. > :24:10.are all beginning to gather around Roddy MacDonald. He is heading for

:24:11. > :24:12.the other side of the field understandably and Innes Wood has

:24:13. > :24:22.warned Roddy MacDonald to be careful. This is what happened. Just

:24:23. > :24:28.a careless slash, and a second swing and a third one. Scotland have to be

:24:29. > :24:33.careful they don't lose their composure. Scotland teams in the

:24:34. > :24:37.past have done that, they get carried away with the physicality of

:24:38. > :24:43.the game. They have got away with that because that is wide. This is

:24:44. > :24:47.wasteful. Ronald Ross has gone onto the pitch to have a word with his

:24:48. > :24:51.players. I think he felt the temperature going and he has warned

:24:52. > :24:55.them they need to win this by playing shinty, it is the only way

:24:56. > :25:04.they will do it. The best way anyway. There is a lull in the game

:25:05. > :25:08.at the moment after the frenetic start, the first 10-15 minutes of

:25:09. > :25:15.the second half. That is a great block and the ball has gone through

:25:16. > :25:19.but again, the player is in the circle before the long ball came. If

:25:20. > :25:29.you keep your eye to the left, now Innes Wood has stopped the game

:25:30. > :25:35.again. The ball comes in anyway and again, Shane Nolan that time, in

:25:36. > :25:39.before the ball and I think for the Irish, the circle is far bigger than

:25:40. > :25:46.they normally play in Ireland and they properly are not realising they

:25:47. > :25:49.are offside. They need to be aware of that, when the ball comes in,

:25:50. > :25:56.they need to take a look and see where the circle is. It is a natural

:25:57. > :26:00.inclination from the regular game, the drift in and try to pick up the

:26:01. > :26:05.pieces they are finding themselves today, a couple of times, they have

:26:06. > :26:12.found themselves in the D area before the ball and that is illegal

:26:13. > :26:17.in the compromised rules. A chance for Roddy MacDonald, his long arms

:26:18. > :26:21.and legs, didn't quite have the final push. Bartlett holds back. A

:26:22. > :26:28.crucial intervention by the Irish defender. Coming in at the back.

:26:29. > :26:34.Just enough to put them off because the ball fell kindly to Kevin

:26:35. > :26:38.Bartlett. Eoin Reilly having to readjust, he was going to take a

:26:39. > :26:41.quick one but the ball fell off the Keep it to yourself, right?

:26:42. > :26:48.Unfortunately for him. The ball was taken by Bain but plenty of pace in

:26:49. > :26:58.this Irish attack. That is well cleared by Finlay MacRae. National

:26:59. > :27:01.Player of the Year, the new one, from the Marine Harvest awards last

:27:02. > :27:06.night. Another good chance by Bartlett, how many does he need? He

:27:07. > :27:11.is certainly getting them anyway. The game has really descended into

:27:12. > :27:16.set piece opportunities and we haven't seen many good attempts on

:27:17. > :27:19.goal and I suspect that is detracting from the game because it

:27:20. > :27:24.is just coming down to these points over the bar. The game needs a goal

:27:25. > :27:29.from Ireland to make it a even contest and the game into life.

:27:30. > :27:34.Someone has to start chasing it because if the game finishes level,

:27:35. > :27:41.the trophy will stay with Scotland as last year's winners. There are

:27:42. > :27:47.some tactics going on off the ball. Changes being made. Thumbs up from

:27:48. > :27:53.the official. Kevin will do well to get it over the bar from here. He

:27:54. > :27:56.has a bit of an angle to deal with. Deep breath, big swing and he

:27:57. > :28:02.slashed it. You could hear the contact made with the ground before

:28:03. > :28:06.it hit the ball. He made the 10-15 yards and that will make a

:28:07. > :28:10.difference. It dropped short but the key thing, it was still in play so

:28:11. > :28:17.Glen MacKintosh could go in and put a bit of pressure on. This now, you

:28:18. > :28:22.would feel Kevin has a good chance. It is a more acute angle but

:28:23. > :28:26.distance wise, it is reachable for him, so his technique doesn't come

:28:27. > :28:32.under so much pressure. This is within range for him.

:28:33. > :28:44.It is a great block. It is still live and Scotland were not quite

:28:45. > :28:49.quick enough to capitalise on the block. They have sussed out the way

:28:50. > :28:56.and pace of the ball. Look at how he jumped up, it is his body that

:28:57. > :29:00.blocked it. Karl Murray got his body in the way and stopped it and

:29:01. > :29:08.Scotland couldn't take advantage. Still an 8-point game, we have 20

:29:09. > :29:16.minutes left. For the two teams to sort this all out. You get the

:29:17. > :29:19.feeling there is more to come. There comes a point in every game with

:29:20. > :29:22.somebody decides you have to try to win this. The same applies to

:29:23. > :29:29.Scotland because they cannot sit back. They can't defend 8-point

:29:30. > :29:33.because it is easily manageable by the Irish, just start rattling the

:29:34. > :29:41.ball over the bar if they can get near enough. This is a great chance

:29:42. > :29:46.for them. What a save. You want it text book shinty goalkeeping save

:29:47. > :29:53.from someone who knows what doing? Here it comes. Cha Dwyer hits it low

:29:54. > :30:01.and Stuart MacDonald is down. He stopped that with his stick. He says

:30:02. > :30:07.it and clears it all in one movement.

:30:08. > :30:15.It is a free-hit, he scoops it up and he is looking for the second

:30:16. > :30:29.shove from the players coming in but it is a breathtaking save. This man

:30:30. > :30:32.won the cup for Lovat. A different style of goalkeeping, most

:30:33. > :30:36.goalkeepers just go to smother that ball with their body but Stuart

:30:37. > :30:44.MacDonald has the confidence to go and volleyed the ball away. Number

:30:45. > :30:50.19 is Mark MacDonald coming on. And the number six Lee Bain has put in a

:30:51. > :30:56.good shift and he is replaced in midfield. Probably less of a

:30:57. > :31:03.defender and more of a midfielder than Mark MacDonald. Lee Bain is a

:31:04. > :31:11.straight defender says Scott and needing something in the field I

:31:12. > :31:15.think. Just not managing to get the ball to the forward line. We have

:31:16. > :31:21.hardly seen anything from Glen MacKintosh. This is a chance. On the

:31:22. > :31:27.left-hand side, cutting inside. A good ball, first touch. The defender

:31:28. > :31:29.carefully, good intervention by the defender, making sure Roddy

:31:30. > :31:37.MacDonald had to run further and couldn't get to the second ball.

:31:38. > :31:42.That is more efficient to move, we have not seen many of those, not

:31:43. > :31:48.many passing movements from either team because they have been so

:31:49. > :31:53.reliant on set pieces. Here, Ireland again, Dwyer releases it and just

:31:54. > :31:58.lack of composure there because he had more time than he thought I

:31:59. > :32:03.think. You could see the desperation and frustration on his face. I think

:32:04. > :32:07.his team-mates are getting exasperated with him now because any

:32:08. > :32:13.opportunity he has, he is shooting the goals and he is not making it,

:32:14. > :32:18.the two Irish players there waiting for it coming, neither a shot nor a

:32:19. > :32:28.pass. As the clock ticks down, Ireland are not really closing the

:32:29. > :32:37.gap at all to Scotland. Just a sense I have backed the pitch conditions

:32:38. > :32:46.are slightly less manageable, with the pitch becoming slippery because

:32:47. > :32:51.of the evening due. Fraser Heath trying to defend from the front.

:32:52. > :32:56.Better play from Scotland, Cameron played it down to the corner flag

:32:57. > :33:00.allowing them to keep Ireland on the defence. That is what Scotland need

:33:01. > :33:07.to do, get the ball in the wide areas. A wasted ball from Ireland.

:33:08. > :33:20.Some sloppiness coming into their play at times. Their captain,

:33:21. > :33:29.shirtsleeves at the end of October, moral less, McDonald. Asking for a

:33:30. > :33:39.new ball. Some stuff going on off the ball. Picked up by the referee,

:33:40. > :33:46.eyes on the back of his head. Some little nudges going on here and

:33:47. > :33:50.there. A few stoppages -- remarkably few stoppages in the game as well

:33:51. > :33:55.and even more remarkably, very few injuries. Such a physically

:33:56. > :34:05.demanding contest. Not the prettiest at times but it is hard and it is

:34:06. > :34:10.tough with sticks buying. Even without them, the frustration, you

:34:11. > :34:13.get the feeling the Irish team is frustrated, they haven't quite

:34:14. > :34:17.adapted to the circumstances are some of the island teams over the

:34:18. > :34:22.years. Michael bring carrot on to try and play without his whole, that

:34:23. > :34:26.of course is a foul because he has nothing to protect him serve with.

:34:27. > :34:30.Ireland have been closing down the free hits from Scotland, a good

:34:31. > :34:34.tactic by them but somehow they haven't had the quality to make it

:34:35. > :34:38.count in the final third, getting points over the bar and that is the

:34:39. > :34:43.difference so far. Kevin Bartlett has the quality to take points when

:34:44. > :34:48.Scotland have an opportunity. Had the McGrath brothers been here, I

:34:49. > :34:53.think we would have seen that from them, playing up front. It is just

:34:54. > :34:57.unfortunate there are other commitments didn't allow them to be

:34:58. > :35:02.here. They might have had that X factor to stand out from the rest of

:35:03. > :35:08.the team. Trying to close the gap from last year, Scotland were really

:35:09. > :35:12.dominant and ran out worthy winners. Ireland have contested it far better

:35:13. > :35:16.but when it comes to the vital aspect of scoring points and goals,

:35:17. > :35:24.it has not been there for them. Kevin with another opportunity to

:35:25. > :35:29.extend the Scotland lead. Giving the flag the heave Ho so he can complete

:35:30. > :35:35.his swing. It is high and long and it is good. That is a good hit. That

:35:36. > :35:42.has given Scotland a bit more comfort. Yes, just cutting inside

:35:43. > :35:48.the left-hand post, that slight fade. I don't know if that was over

:35:49. > :35:51.the bar looking at it. It looked like it cut before the left-hand

:35:52. > :35:56.post, we will look again, not convinced it went over the bar. It

:35:57. > :36:07.has been given, that is the point I suppose. Just in the gathering

:36:08. > :36:13.gloom. Let's have a look and see if we can see that. A perfect view of

:36:14. > :36:19.this. As Kevin strikes it, the ball starts to fade left and it goes more

:36:20. > :36:32.and more left. That is in. I think that is in. You think? I will keep

:36:33. > :36:37.quiet then. The Scotland sub, number 20, Greg Matheson, this is a man we

:36:38. > :36:40.think is not fully fit. An exceptional forward, a beautiful is

:36:41. > :36:47.Tiger with both hands but has a recurrent hamstring problem. He is a

:36:48. > :36:57.danger. Scrapping away. Just on the field and picking a fight. Damien

:36:58. > :37:02.Healy again. They are at it all the time. That is a distraction Scotland

:37:03. > :37:08.can't afford really. They need to concentrate and focus but they are

:37:09. > :37:12.looking for Matheson to get a goal. They are in the lead, just play the

:37:13. > :37:16.game out, play it wide and take the two points when they come and try

:37:17. > :37:22.and get a goal but no need to get involved and have a man sent off or

:37:23. > :37:28.anything like that. Heading for the final ten minutes in very short

:37:29. > :37:32.order. All of a sudden you get the feeling Scotland are getting more of

:37:33. > :37:36.the ball and being more creative. McRae being up front has helped

:37:37. > :37:42.that. There is a chance if Glenn McIntosh can turn it. The goalkeeper

:37:43. > :37:46.is off and running and away with it. He is gone, good night. It is the

:37:47. > :37:52.captain, he is off, happy. How far will he make it. He has taken it

:37:53. > :37:56.well up and created a great chance and what an ovation he got because

:37:57. > :38:04.that is simply outstanding from Reilly. He is a bit of a showman in

:38:05. > :38:08.these fixtures over the years. He will is that if his team-mates want

:38:09. > :38:13.going to do it, he would do it himself. A tremendous run, it shows

:38:14. > :38:16.you the goalkeeper but how fast that fit he is to carry at that distance

:38:17. > :38:20.and Scotland doing their best to chase him but he realises he had

:38:21. > :38:25.better get rid of it and plays it forward. I like the look on them in

:38:26. > :38:31.touch's face. They are trying to create a chance for further play but

:38:32. > :38:35.Scotland have it, they don't quite get it away. This time it is gone.

:38:36. > :38:44.The Irish are filling the space much better now. Quite keen and able to

:38:45. > :38:48.pass it back but tempting fate because Matheson is on top of him.

:38:49. > :38:55.They are starting to throw men forward, Stephen Donald basically

:38:56. > :39:00.playing as a sweeper now. Just marking space, not picking up any

:39:01. > :39:03.individuals. I am not sure that is a wise tactic because if you don't

:39:04. > :39:09.pick up the men, Glenn McIntosh has come way back into midfield.

:39:10. > :39:18.Matheson and Roddy McDonald upfront. Bartlett, McRae. Keith McRae in the

:39:19. > :39:22.red helmet on the far side. They are trying to load midfield. Scotland

:39:23. > :39:28.need possession, they are going to knock this back to the danger area.

:39:29. > :39:32.Across the face of the goal, still live for Ireland. Scotland need to

:39:33. > :39:35.get it out, rammed across the goal and it has gone what we would call a

:39:36. > :39:42.corner but is a free hits to Ireland. From midfield. And again,

:39:43. > :39:48.we have reached the point in the game where they decide whether to go

:39:49. > :39:54.for goal or a point or create the chance up from the back. This is

:39:55. > :40:01.going to go for goal. He is just asking for guidance here. I think

:40:02. > :40:08.the message is, Ronald Ross intervening to try and disrupted by

:40:09. > :40:12.bringing on a sub. It a clever move. He is only allowed one movement, the

:40:13. > :40:22.referee has told him. Look at the Scottish player. He is getting ready

:40:23. > :40:26.to pounce. Conor Cormack is a defender coming on, Scotland are

:40:27. > :40:34.defending this. Conor Cormack, he injured his hand on this very pitch

:40:35. > :40:38.as I recall in a semifinal and hasn't, I don't know if he has

:40:39. > :40:48.played at all since then. Maybe once or twice. Up it goes, it is long and

:40:49. > :40:54.it is wide. He's going to stay up, he's not going back. He's decided to

:40:55. > :40:58.hang about in midfield and picked up some loose balls. Heavily strapped

:40:59. > :41:04.about the leg. Maybe not quite as fit as he should be. It was not far

:41:05. > :41:17.away but not but Foreign Office far as Scotland are concerned. Again, it

:41:18. > :41:21.drifts out. The Irish move it quickly. They are sensing they have

:41:22. > :41:28.to make a move. Time is rapidly running out. They're managed team

:41:29. > :41:33.will have told them they are in the final ten minutes. That is a good

:41:34. > :41:42.ball across the goal but it will run all the way into touch. That is a

:41:43. > :41:48.wasted ball again. It is the lack of flair and creativity in the top

:41:49. > :41:53.third beating Ireland at the moment. They haven't made the possession

:41:54. > :41:57.count, it is probably 50-50 over the game at the scoreboard doesn't show

:41:58. > :42:03.that. Island in open play have not taken many single points or goals

:42:04. > :42:07.but to clarify that, they haven't taken any of their set pieces either

:42:08. > :42:11.which is why for all of their efforts, they only have four points

:42:12. > :42:19.which is a really poor return for the effort they have put into this

:42:20. > :42:30.match. Some manoeuvring and substitutions being sorted out.

:42:31. > :42:38.Scotland have it. The spare man is a blue shirt. Gets it away and that is

:42:39. > :42:44.a good tackle. That is more like what is needed now. It was Rory

:42:45. > :42:51.Kennedy, he has had a good game. He has been exceptional for Scotland,

:42:52. > :42:55.as he was at Croke Park last year, doesn't put a foot wrong. He has

:42:56. > :43:06.been a huge feature for the Scotland today. Down to six minutes, in the

:43:07. > :43:11.closing stages. It has been an enthralling if not highly attractive

:43:12. > :43:15.contest in terms of skill value but it has been competitive all the way

:43:16. > :43:27.through. It is still there for the taking because a ten point

:43:28. > :43:31.different, three goals and a bit. You can see plenty of opportunities

:43:32. > :43:36.but they have just passed them up. I think Ireland will be disappointed.

:43:37. > :43:41.They started the game a lot brighter than last year but it has not

:43:42. > :43:47.materialised for them. And they don't have a second leg where they

:43:48. > :43:50.can peg it back. Here is what the McDonald with his own second leg,

:43:51. > :43:58.gets it to Matheson across the goal. Reilly on the move but he was caught

:43:59. > :44:03.off balance. Just falling backwards but he did enough to get it away.

:44:04. > :44:09.Rory Kennedy again, a crucial intervention. That is good play to

:44:10. > :44:14.send it up into that area, if it is out of play, it doesn't matter, it

:44:15. > :44:17.eats into the time. Ireland have got poorer and poorer at the sideline

:44:18. > :44:25.cuts for some reason, Rory Kennedy reads the game and distributes the

:44:26. > :44:28.ball away, he doesn't mess around. That is ironically one of the best

:44:29. > :44:33.cuts they have put in from the side field in a long time. Scotland

:44:34. > :44:40.having a couple of spare men floating about but that has gone,

:44:41. > :44:44.the flag has changed and the referee has overruled the flag to give the

:44:45. > :44:50.ball to Ireland. You can see how they are hurrying the play now. They

:44:51. > :44:54.know the clock is against them. They would certainly need to score a goal

:44:55. > :44:59.very quickly to get back into this game. Scotland are loading their

:45:00. > :45:04.players, pulling as many of their forwards back into midfield as they

:45:05. > :45:10.can. Some clever play, with some time and space. McDonald tries to

:45:11. > :45:16.get it but slips. The surface beginning to be a challenge. There

:45:17. > :45:28.were three Scottish defenders ready for that. There was a flag up at the

:45:29. > :45:32.back. He tried to break forward but as the ball hit the ground, he

:45:33. > :45:35.kicked it. For Irish players, they are allowed to kick it in the normal

:45:36. > :45:42.hurling game and whether he reverted back to instinct, he kicked the ball

:45:43. > :45:47.and called up for the foul. The coach still manoeuvring but Ronald

:45:48. > :45:54.Ross trying to outmanoeuvre him by changing the players. Roddy McDonald

:45:55. > :45:57.coming off and Thomas Borthwick of Carnoustie replaces him. He has done

:45:58. > :46:01.a lot of galloping about and got his knees dirty so will heal -- he will

:46:02. > :46:09.feel he has contributed all afternoon. It has not been the

:46:10. > :46:14.easiest of days for him. Well the least, a good chance now for

:46:15. > :46:18.Scotland. -- Pol east. The Scottish player in the bus, needs to get out

:46:19. > :46:22.and Macintosh hits it and gets it the way out to the left, that was a

:46:23. > :46:29.good chance but I suspect Bartlett might have been offside.

:46:30. > :46:36.That doesn't matter now because the Irish on the move. There was a

:46:37. > :46:40.deflection so it is Scotland's ball. They have the seed time out and

:46:41. > :46:46.basically then they are home and dry. It is barely conceivable could

:46:47. > :46:52.get what they need in two minutes of regular time. No, they have only

:46:53. > :46:59.scored four points in 78 minutes. Hardly likely they will score ten

:47:00. > :47:06.minutes in the time left. I think it is sad to say Scotland will win

:47:07. > :47:11.today. Looking at it neutrally, the game has failed as a spectacle, we

:47:12. > :47:16.needed goals and we needed Ireland to take more of a chance. Scotland

:47:17. > :47:23.have ground it out here without being fantastic. Ireland have a bit

:47:24. > :47:28.to do in terms of taking advantage of the set pieces and becoming more

:47:29. > :47:34.potent in the final third. There is a chance here. Kevin Bartlett, a man

:47:35. > :47:43.not in a hurry, he knows full well what the clock says. Ronald Ross

:47:44. > :47:49.will be satisfied with the results, not so sure 100% satisfied with the

:47:50. > :47:53.performance. The result is all that counts in the first instance and

:47:54. > :48:01.Bartlett has the chance in the final minute to put the icing on the cake

:48:02. > :48:07.and increase his own personal tally. Remarkable performance. It is low

:48:08. > :48:14.and he tests Reilly and wryly managed to get it away from

:48:15. > :48:19.Mattheson I think who snuck in at the back. Almost managed to get it

:48:20. > :48:23.in. Will they get it in the net before the end of the game? Wryly

:48:24. > :48:28.under pressure again, no messing that time, just sends it away.

:48:29. > :48:33.Scotland will go for another goal if they can but they have wasted that

:48:34. > :48:43.ball. Ironically, in the last minute, they just about reached Eoin

:48:44. > :48:50.Reilly's wall. Eoin Reilly gets his stick on it. Greg Matheson comes in

:48:51. > :48:54.on the ball broke. Takes another touch to compose himself but Greg

:48:55. > :49:03.Matheson block set and the ball when to Glen McIntosh. He did the right

:49:04. > :49:13.thing because he anticipated a drop of the ball and where it would be.

:49:14. > :49:17.Ireland may very well in the last minutes, they will go for a goal.

:49:18. > :49:20.They don't want to go home not having breached the Scottish defence

:49:21. > :49:28.and I suspect they want to give it one final flourish. They have done

:49:29. > :49:36.that with a point from open play. Five in total now to Scotland's 14.

:49:37. > :49:40.Nice play by Michael Doyle and Cha Dwyer. Michael Doyle taking the

:49:41. > :49:43.point. A bit of quality and composure from a player which would

:49:44. > :49:52.have been nice through the whole match. They have not been able to do

:49:53. > :50:02.it often enough. The result will tell the tale. The back story is

:50:03. > :50:07.irrelevant for the moment. A chance again, Mattheson has been trouble

:50:08. > :50:14.since he came on. Really rattled them. He has offered something

:50:15. > :50:21.different because that is what the game has needed. A little spark, a

:50:22. > :50:24.bit of flair. A bit of fancy footwork, whatever, something

:50:25. > :50:32.different just about the run of the game. Because it has been

:50:33. > :50:35.predictable in areas. Disappointing for the Irish but you will suspect

:50:36. > :50:40.they will enjoy the rest of the weekend before they go home. You

:50:41. > :50:46.have to look at how they can make a better spectacle of it, how can both

:50:47. > :50:50.teams improve? Perhaps traditionally, ten years ago, only

:50:51. > :50:56.goals counted, you didn't have any points over the bar. I think perhaps

:50:57. > :51:03.going back to goals counting only might be a good thing. They

:51:04. > :51:09.certainly need something. Tactically, the two teams have

:51:10. > :51:16.negated so much of the other side's skills. The manager will be happy

:51:17. > :51:20.enough. This is an exhibition game, an international, you want to see

:51:21. > :51:25.the best of both teams and we haven't seen that today. We haven't

:51:26. > :51:34.seen the best of hurling nor of shinty. It's been no control

:51:35. > :51:38.incidents the game has turned out the way it has because the coaching

:51:39. > :51:44.is now so intense and accurate and players are marked out for treatment

:51:45. > :51:51.in the tactical sense, their skills are tied up and the scoring

:51:52. > :51:54.opportunities are there, in set pieces for the great part on for

:51:55. > :52:00.today, for the whole part of the game.

:52:01. > :52:10.Kevin Bartlett has been excellent. Scotland B to C at the time

:52:11. > :52:27.carefully now. The Irish won the women's game

:52:28. > :52:31.earlier today. Mattheson will take this one himself, he won't bother

:52:32. > :52:38.Kevin Bartlett who has disappeared to the far end of the pitch. Maybe

:52:39. > :52:42.looking for a goal. He is by the back post looking for this at the

:52:43. > :52:46.moment. Greg is a really good striker of the ball. It'll be

:52:47. > :52:53.interesting to see what he tries to do. Right into the danger area but

:52:54. > :52:59.the offside flag is up. He was looking forward to the back post but

:53:00. > :53:03.unfortunately for Greg Matheson, he couldn't do it. The referee Innes

:53:04. > :53:07.Wood has called a halt to proceedings because at the end of

:53:08. > :53:17.the day, Scotland have emerged victorious and retained the Marine

:53:18. > :53:24.Harvest trophy with a comfortable, if not spectacular victory over the

:53:25. > :53:28.Irish. The two managers have acknowledged the excellence of their

:53:29. > :53:32.own contribution to the game. That is the man of the match for me in

:53:33. > :53:37.terms of getting the points, they are allocating each other's shirts

:53:38. > :53:43.before they go off. Scottish captain John Barr will be delighted with his

:53:44. > :53:48.team's performance no doubt and the celebrations and the rest of the

:53:49. > :53:49.entertainment can begin. Let's see what the Scottish captain thought of

:53:50. > :54:00.the proceedings. Congratulations, what does it mean

:54:01. > :54:06.to win that game? Fantastic, it was cagey game. I don't think either

:54:07. > :54:15.team were really flowing. Great effort. The man creeping over your

:54:16. > :54:19.shoulder, Kevin Bartlett. Just a word on his performance. He had a

:54:20. > :54:22.good game. Meeting the ball first and with free-hits, always potential

:54:23. > :54:28.to put them over the bar. He did well today. Congratulations, you are

:54:29. > :54:34.making a habit in this fixture of knocking over all the points. It was

:54:35. > :54:41.a good game. Probably not one of our best performances but we took more

:54:42. > :54:46.chances than they did. They missed a lot for them. Usually they are very

:54:47. > :54:53.accurate. Probably wasn't the best game I suppose but we will be back

:54:54. > :54:59.next year. Good victory for us. You seem to thrive under pressure. I

:55:00. > :55:05.don't mind it, if I'm hitting well. I missed a lot today myself but

:55:06. > :55:10.thankfully had quite a few to take. John, you will pick up the Marine

:55:11. > :55:15.Harvest Quaich from your dad, that must be special? I asked him to do

:55:16. > :55:23.it especially so I hope he has polished it! Good for the families.

:55:24. > :55:30.For you, your last shinty- hurling game? That is vicious rumours, I

:55:31. > :55:37.never said that! We will see! We will see how it goes. Good to see

:55:38. > :55:41.the dream lives on? To represent your country is an unbelievable

:55:42. > :55:45.honour. Always proud to do that and happy working with the coaches and

:55:46. > :55:53.players. Many talents on the pitch. Honoured to do it. What is likely

:55:54. > :55:57.you to pull on that Scotland jersey? It means a lot. It is something

:55:58. > :56:01.different, you play every weekend and it is the same but this is

:56:02. > :56:07.different. All the boys together and it is always fun. It is a good

:56:08. > :56:15.match. Very enjoyable. Well done, enjoy the celebrations. STUDIO:

:56:16. > :56:20.Glorious victory for Scotland. We should revel in the moment when we

:56:21. > :56:26.can. John Barr also is, also a future politician career ahead of

:56:27. > :56:31.him! A great day for Scotland and the players can sit back and realise

:56:32. > :56:39.they have won the Marine Harvest Quaich. That is well-deserved. I by

:56:40. > :56:46.former Scotland international 's Gary Innes and Eddie Tembo. A

:56:47. > :56:51.deserved victory for Scotland? They have worked very hard. Scottish

:56:52. > :56:57.defence outstanding. The forwards did their job. Kevin Bartlett gave

:56:58. > :57:01.them the points when required. We just heard from Kevin Bartlett and

:57:02. > :57:06.he is such a key player for Scotland. Absolutely. The

:57:07. > :57:11.consistency he has got is second to none. He has got 13 points I think

:57:12. > :57:17.today which is an enormous hall for him. That is what we needed to do,

:57:18. > :57:22.keep on the points, going on the board and that is what he has done.

:57:23. > :57:28.We spoke at the start of the show, he was just always going to be so

:57:29. > :57:33.important. Always. So influential. If Kevin is hitting well, it lifts

:57:34. > :57:37.the rest of the team and gives them momentum to move forward. Stuart

:57:38. > :57:46.MacDonald, and other Lovat player, he played his part. He did. He did

:57:47. > :57:50.his job fantastically. Keeping a clean sheet in these conditions must

:57:51. > :57:57.be a hard thing to do and he managed to do it. Another consistent player.

:57:58. > :58:01.He put himself on the line, it takes real guts. He is a special

:58:02. > :58:07.goalkeeper. He makes an exhibition of saving the ball. He does it so

:58:08. > :58:12.well. And so easy, makes it look like the most natural thing in the

:58:13. > :58:16.world. Absolutely. A great day for Scotland, the players are they

:58:17. > :58:18.waiting for the trophy presentation, let's go straight back to that in

:58:19. > :58:28.the company of Hugh Dan MacLennan. It is not often we get the chance

:58:29. > :58:32.these days to celebrate a Scottish victory and no doubt, both sets of

:58:33. > :58:40.players will get together this evening and complete the job. No

:58:41. > :58:44.doubt have a look forward to next year and renew the rivalry. Steve

:58:45. > :58:53.bracken of Marine Harvest issuing the awards to the Irish players who

:58:54. > :58:57.will have mixed feelings I suspect, going home. They may feel they did

:58:58. > :59:03.not acquit themselves as well as some of their predecessors. No. Last

:59:04. > :59:06.year in Inverness, they were beaten by an excellent Scotland team and

:59:07. > :59:11.they were determined to come back this year, they seemed very

:59:12. > :59:15.determined as we saw from the start. They were intense but the challenge

:59:16. > :59:18.did not materialise and it all came down to not putting points on the

:59:19. > :59:23.board. They will be really disappointed. Five points is a poor

:59:24. > :59:27.return for their efforts today. All credit to the Scotland coaching team

:59:28. > :59:31.for making sure that is the way it ended up as well because they

:59:32. > :59:35.managed to close down Ireland and the captain, Eoin Reilly, always a

:59:36. > :59:41.bit of a character. We are grateful to him for his superb run up the

:59:42. > :59:45.near side of the pitch. The referee Innes Wood had a good game, never

:59:46. > :00:03.reach for the card, kept the game flowing.

:00:04. > :00:12.Here is the man of the moment, Ronald Ross, still able to jog up

:00:13. > :00:21.the steps. Yet another medal to add to his illustrious career.

:00:22. > :00:30.Ally Ferguson has also been in charge of the team. They have got a

:00:31. > :00:36.good system no. They know what they are doing. I think the key with

:00:37. > :00:40.Ronald taking the team is, he has got a system but also got the

:00:41. > :00:43.players to play for him to make the system work. We didn't see it so

:00:44. > :00:48.much in evidence today but over the last few years, they have played

:00:49. > :00:51.nice shinty and moved the ball around really well. All the top

:00:52. > :00:57.players are now playing for Scotland. That is what Ronald has

:00:58. > :01:00.brought to the team. The question will now be whether Ronald will

:01:01. > :01:06.carry on to manage Scotland for another year or not. I can't see any

:01:07. > :01:10.reason for changes mind. I think he enjoys the role and the task and the

:01:11. > :01:11.challenge. It is a massive challenge the pit your wits against some of

:01:12. > :01:26.these players. Some of the top-class hurlers are

:01:27. > :01:34.semiprofessional. Everything available to them in terms of the

:01:35. > :01:38.competitive structures that we in the shinty world could only dream

:01:39. > :01:43.of. There is Steven McDonald, his customary big hitting game at the

:01:44. > :01:48.back. And the goalkeeper, what can we say about Stuart McCall that has

:01:49. > :01:52.not been said, he proved what a good customer he is. Now the pub quiz

:01:53. > :01:58.question for years to come, which Scottish captain went up to take the

:01:59. > :02:04.trophy from the president who is is his father. Steve Bracken doing the

:02:05. > :02:08.honours to prevent it having to take it from his father. The winners of

:02:09. > :02:18.the International this year Scotland, the winning captain, John

:02:19. > :02:29.Barr. And the beaming face to his left, our right, is his father Jim

:02:30. > :02:34.Barr. Who has played his own part in the great history of shinty on the

:02:35. > :02:44.Glenn and in terms of Scottish action. Another wonderful afternoon.

:02:45. > :02:50.Fantastic stuff. How do you sum it up, a great day for Scotland? It has

:02:51. > :02:55.been. A great performance, from the management, the whole squad. They

:02:56. > :03:00.will have a massive party tonight. In terms of the Irish, they will be

:03:01. > :03:06.disappointed, a frustrating day for them. It has, some uncharacteristic

:03:07. > :03:09.misses from the Irish which I have not seen in internationals before.

:03:10. > :03:20.They will be disappointed and will have to go back and think what to do

:03:21. > :03:28.for next year. Intensive John Barr, vicious rumours. John has been

:03:29. > :03:33.travelling the whole year to get to games, his life is changing,

:03:34. > :03:40.Scotland captain last season. 32 in the programme, think that is dubious

:03:41. > :03:45.as well. But what a way to bow out if this is his last match. I believe

:03:46. > :03:53.the Scotland manager is with our reporter. He is indeed and is all

:03:54. > :03:59.smiles, what does it mean to win the day International? Everything. We

:04:00. > :04:04.have to take heart from the last couple of months, it culminated

:04:05. > :04:09.today in a hard-fought victory. A special group of players, what did

:04:10. > :04:13.you get today? Everything. Last year we got more of the ball and got down

:04:14. > :04:20.and passed it. Ireland closes down a lot this year so it was more

:04:21. > :04:26.difficult. The closest space we got, we gave it 100%. Rory Kennedy was

:04:27. > :04:34.outstanding. We had no fails, the goalkeeper pulled off a couple of

:04:35. > :04:38.fantastic saves. Well done. Ronald Ross was undoubtedly the greatest

:04:39. > :04:46.shinty player of all time, he has turned into a fine coach as well. He

:04:47. > :04:49.certainly has. He has the best players in Scotland wanting to play

:04:50. > :04:55.for Scotland now and turning up to all of these training sessions. I

:04:56. > :05:03.hope he carries on. Will he stay on? I hope so but I don't know. He has

:05:04. > :05:11.such a great rapport with the boys. Everyone wants to play for him. I

:05:12. > :05:16.hope for the sake of the sport that he does. If he tells you to do

:05:17. > :05:23.something, you listen. Absolutely. He is the best in the game. Thank

:05:24. > :05:31.you very much, it has been a great day for Scotland in terms of the NT

:05:32. > :05:34.Sharelink -- shinty hurling international. Thanks for being with

:05:35. > :05:39.us and until next time, goodbye for now.