By Alan Milton
Ireland: 5-3
Scotland: 2-0
A five-star performance from Irish captain Saoirse McCarthy which included a three-goal haul helped Ireland to an impressive away win over their Scottish hosts in the weekend Camogie/Shinty international contest in Inverness.
The starting line-up included seven Ulster players – Katierose Bell (Antrim), Gráinne McDonald (Tyrone), Aoife McDonald (Tyrone); Dearbhla Magee (Down), Shannagh Heggarty (Antrim), Aisling Hagan (Tyrone) and Áine Cunningham (Tyrone)
The all-action McCarthy was the game’s stand out performer with her touch and athleticism troubling the hosts from the off and despite a competitive first half, Ireland moved up through the gears in the second period to secure victory.
The Cork woman grabbed two goals in the first period and her third after the restart and she wasn’t alone in shining in what was an accomplished showing from Ger Manley’s team.
Ashling Thompson, Dearbhla Magee and the other goalscorers – Amy Quinlisk and Meadbh McLoughlin – all made telling contributions in what was the resumption of full internationals between the countries’ two female teams.
In an evenly contested first half played in a swirling breeze it was Ireland who stuck first through Quinlisk in the fourth minute with a smartly taken point after a bright opening for the team in green.
Team skipper McCarthy capped a perfect opening two minutes later when her long range effort sailed into the net over the head of Joanne Gillanders in the Scottish goal.
However, the hosts grew into the contest and the clash in styles was evident as they attempted to move the ball at speed over long distances compared to Ireland’s preference to carry the ball.
Scotland’s first score arrived on 10 minutes from the camán of Beth MacLellan and three minutes later she had another after a smart finish from another ball that went over the top.
Scotland were succeeding in getting in behind the Irish defence with their direct approach.
However, Ireland composed themselves in the run up to break as McCarthy rifled home after losing her marker to allow her team to go in a point up at the interval 2-1 to 2-0.
The second half proved to be a different story.
The visiting team seized control gaining the upper hand around the middle third assisted with smart use of the interchange subs and it told on the scoreboard.
Quinlisk scrambled her goal on 39 minutes after a long range McCarthy effort landed short before the Courcey Rovers club woman herself added 1-1.
Sive Byrne tagged on a point after a clever flicked finish before McLoughlin crowned a productive day at Bught Park with the last score of a half that Scotland failed to score in.
Ireland: Aoife Corcoran (Westmeath); Casey Kelly (Wicklow), Dearbhail McLoughlin (Westmeath), Katierose Bell (Antrim), Gráinne McDonald (Tyrone), Aoife McDonald (Tyrone); Dearbhla Magee (Down), Shannagh Heggarty (Antrim), Ashling Thompson (Cork); Amy Quinlisk (Tipperary) 1-1, Saoirse McCarthy (Cork) 3-1 1f, Sive Byrne (Wicklow) 0-1, Aisling Hagan (Tyrone), Áine Cunningham (Tyrone).
Inter-change subs: Fiona Keating (Westmeath), Sally Bolger (Roscommon), Tara Naughton (Roscommon), Amy Cousins (Wexford), Meadbh McLoughlin (Westmeath) 1-0.
Scotland: Joanne Gillanders; Christina MacDonald, Kira Mac Donald, Alaina MacLennan, Mairi Duncan, Mairi Stewart; Kirsty Deans, Caitlin MacLean, Megan Ralph; Rona Stewart, Zoe Reid, Rhona McIntyre, Beth MacLellan 2-0, Rachel McCafferty.
Inter-change subs: Ali MacVicar, Amy Disher, Natalie MacDonald, Hazel Hunter, Lexy McLeod, Hannah MacDonald.
Referee: Calum Girvan (Inverness)
