Oakleaf trio selected for Ireland shinty-hurling showdown
The prestigious call-ups cap off a historic week of awards and accolades for the Derry hurling community
Three Derry intercounty hurling stars have been named in the Ireland international hurling-shinty squad set to face Scotland at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday afternoon. In a double header on Leeside, an Ireland camogie team will take on their Scottish counterparts at 4pm before the hurlers face Scotland at 6pm.
The last meeting between Ireland and Scotland in the Shinty-Hurling International took place on October 25, 2025, at Bught Park in Inverness. Managed by Saffron legend Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton, Ireland defeated the Scots 3-3 to 2-4 to retain the Mowi Quaich Cup and secure their third consecutive victory in the fixture.
Earlier this week, managers Ger Manley and Eamon O’Shea confirmed their panels following trials in recent weeks, with Cork’s Ashling Thompson and Kilkenny’s Mikey Butler named as team captains.
The hurling selection features a combination of high-profile Liam MacCarthy Cup players alongside some of the most outstanding performers in the Joe McDonagh, Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups this year.
Among those selected are Slaughtneil’s Meehaul McGrath, who missed most of Derry’s breakthrough Christy Ring Cup campaign through injury, and Swatragh’s Patrick Turner. Kevin Lynch’s goalkeeper Sean Kelly has also been named on the standby list.
There are several standout selections in this year’s Ireland squad, including Waterford’s Billy Nolan, Clare’s Diarmuid Stritch and recently retired Cork hurling legend Seamus Harnedy. The panel also boasts representation from 18 counties, with Leitrim, Fermanagh, Longford and Monaghan among those represented.
It has been a busy week for the Derry hurling fraternity, with Turner and Kelly among six Oakleaf men who formed a significant part of the 2026 Champion 15 selection, recognising the outstanding performers across hurling’s lower tiers.
Na Magha's Deaglán Foley, alongside Slaughtneil trio of Conor Coyle, Shea Cassidy and captain Cormac O'Doherty, also received the award. O’Doherty enjoyed an especially memorable evening, collecting the coveted Christy Ring Cup Hurler of the Year award after a superb season in which he helped guide Derry to the title at the sixth time of asking.
O’Doherty received his third Champion 15 award after helping steer the county to Christy Ring Cup glory, adding further recognition to a campaign that will live long in the memory of Derry hurling supporters.
“Everyone talks about the GAA as a team sport, and rightfully so, but as an individual, it’s so special to be honoured on nights like this,” said O'Doherty after receiving his Hurler of the Year award. “They don’t come about too often. I’ve been lucky to receive a third Champion 15 award, but the Player of the Year award is just something special.”
“It’s been a great year for Derry hurling, but tonight is just extra special. Losing three finals in a row is so tough. There are a few of us who have been involved in all of them, and it is tough to keep coming back, but the great thing about sport is that you have the opportunity to go a step better, and that’s what we were aiming for.”
“As a Slaughtneil man, the GAA has given me so much in life: friends, a community, and these awards epitomise what is good about the GAA, bringing people from different backgrounds and different teams together. It shows how special it really is.”
Ireland Shinty-Hurling team: Billy Nolan (Waterford), Mikey Butler (Kilkenny), Ian Shanahan (Laois), Sam O'Farrell (Tipperary), Meehaul McGrath (Derry), Ryan Mullaney (Laois), Darragh Neary (Galway), Fiachra C-Fennell (Laois), Diarmuid Stritch (Clare), Aaron Dunphy (Laois), Andrew Ormonde (Tipperary), Cian O'Sullivan (Dublin), Luca McCusker (Fermanagh), Séamus Harnedy (Cork), Pearse Óg McCrickard (Down), Gerard Walsh (Antrim), Joe Murray (Leitrim), Patrick Turner (Derry), Kyle O'Connor (Kerry), Damien Healey (Meath).
Standby players: Seán Kelly (Derry), Johnny Maher (Longford), Ciaran McNally (Longford), Ethan Flynn (Monaghan), Evan Tully (Longford), Pádraig Doyle (Wicklow), Emmet Walsh (Monaghan), Kevin Goulding (Kerry).
Ireland Shinty-Camogie team: Amy Lee (Cork), Aimie Nolan (Carlow), Anais Curran (Wexford), Aoife McDonald (Tyrone), Ashling Thompson (Cork), Ava Fitzgerald (Cork), Dearbhla Magee (Antrim), Emma Murphy (Cork), Gráinne McDonald (Tyrone), Isobel Sheehan (Cork), Laura Hayes (Cork), Maeve Clince (Meath), Naoise Hughes (Armagh), Rachael Walsh (Waterford), Rebecca Kelly (Carlow), Saoirse McCarthy (Cork), Shannagh Hegarty (Antrim), Sinéad Wylde (Dublin), Sophie O’Callaghan (Limerick).