IRELAND proved too strong for Scotland in Saturday’s Camogie-Shinty international contest at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, running out 9-11 to 1-3 winners. Carlow’s Aimie Nolan top-scored for the girls in green, with 4-3 all from play.
In the 14-aside contest, all five Ulster players in the squad started the game with the McDonald sisters from Brocagh slotting into the defence alongside Down’s Dearbhla Magee and team captain Ashling Thompson from Cork. Antrim’s Shannagh Heggarty and Armagh’s Naoise Hughes both got on the score-sheet over the hour.
Ireland led by 5-4 to 1-2 at half time with Nolan leading on three goals and two points while Sinéad Wylde and Laura Hayes also hit the Scotland net. Megan Ralph of Badenoch scored an early goal and a point for the visitors but they were soon under a lot of pressure at the other end.
Scotland were the better team over the third quarter – but didn’t convert that into scores while they held Ireland to a Naoise Hughes point in the 46th minute, the opening score of the half.
However Isobel Sheehan, Saoirse McCarthy, Anais Curran and Nolan all added second-half majors from there.
Scorers for Ireland: A Nolan (4-3), L Hayes (1-2), A Curran (1-1), I Sheehan (1-1), S McCarthy (1-0), S Wylde (1-0), A Fitzgerald (0-1), S Hegarty (0-1), N Hughes (0-1), E Murphy (0-1).
Scorers for Scotland: M Ralph (1-1), I McCulloch (0-1), L McRae (0-1).
Ireland starting team: A Lee (Cork); R Kelly (Carlow), A McDonald (Tyrone); G McDonald (Tyrone), A Thompson (Cork), D Magee (Down); L Hayes (Cork), S Hegarty (Antrim), R Walsh (Waterford); E Murphy (Cork), S McCarthy (Cork), N Hughes (Armagh); S Wylde (Dublin), A Nolan (Carlow).
Rolling subs: A Curran (Wexford), A Fitzgerald (Cork), M Clince (Meath), I Sheehan (Cork), S O’Callaghan (Limerick).
Scotland starting team: E McGregor; K MacDonald, L McCafferty; R McCafferty, A Disher, R Frazer; C MacLean, M Stewart, R Stewart; A MacLennon, N MacDonald, M Ralph; A MacLean, L MacRae.
Rolling subs: E Cameron, I McCulloch, B MacLennan, M MacKenzie, R Borthwick.