Laois GAA hurling stars named in Irish squad for Hurling/Shinty clash against Scotland

Laois along with 13 other counties will have players representing Ireland for the Hurling/Shinty international against Scotland on Saturday, October 21 at Páirc Esler in Newry.

Abbeyleix's Enda Rowland, Clough-Ballacolla's Stephen Maher, Rathdowney-Errill's Paddy Purcell and Castletown's Ryan Mullaney are the four players who'll represent Laois.

The Ireland squad will be captained by Antrim and Cushendall star Neil McManus after his successful participation for the county in the Liam MacCarthy Cup this year. 

After an unavoidable hiatus due to COVID-19, the match will mark a momentous occasion for players as they return to the hybrid game for the first time since 2019.

 Poc Fada star Cillian Kiely (Offaly), Ryan Mullaney (Laois) and Caolan Taggart (Down) were all previously involved in 2019, while Fionan Mackessy (Kerry) was part of the U21 panel in 2019. 

The team is being managed by Damien Coleman from Galway, with an experienced backroom team of Kieran Kingston (Cork), Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton (Antrim) and Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny). 

"We are delighted with our progress; we have a strong panel assembled for the Hurling-Shinty International with representation from 14 counties. It’s vital that we as an Association maintain our traditions, and this event affords hurlers from all tiers the opportunity to play together. The players are all looking forward, as are all our management team to October 21st when we welcome the Scotland team to Páirc Esler,” said manager Damien Coleman.

The Hurling/ Shinty international featuring Ireland against Scotland is on Saturday, 21st October at 2.45pm in Páirc Esler in Newry. The game will be shown live on the official TG4 YouTube channel. 

Hurling Shinty International - Ireland Senior Team:

Niall Arthur, Iniskeen Grattans - Monaghan

Mickey Joe Egan, St Dominic's - Roscommon

David Fitzgerald, Inagh-Kilnamona – Clare

Peter Duggan, Clooney-Quin - Clare

Andrew Gilsenan-Kavanagh, Barndarrig - Wicklow

Cillian Kiely, Kilcormac-Killoughey – Offaly

Eoghan Cahill, Birr - Offaly

Fionan Mackessy, St Brendan's - Kerry

Luca McCusker, Maguiresbridge - Fermanagh

Neil McManus, Ruairí Óg, Cushendall - Antrim

Chris Nolan, Mount Leinster Rangers – Carlow

Ryan Mullaney, Castletown – Laois

Stephen Maher, Clough-Ballacolla – Laois 

Paddy Purcell, Rathdowney-Errill - Laois

Enda Rowland, Abbeyleix - Laois

Caolan Taggart, Portaferry - Down

Padraig Walsh, Tullaroan - Kilkenny

Ger Millerick, Father O'Neill's - Cork

Rob Downey, Glen Rovers – Cork

Tom Monaghan, Craughwell - Galway