Eamon O’Shea expecting fast and exciting encounter
Ireland Hurling/Shinty manager Eamon O'Shea. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
Eamon O'Shea hopes to finalise the seven Liam MacCarthy Cup players for the Ireland Hurling-Shinty squad in the coming days.
The Ireland manager confirmed that Waterford's Billy Nolan, Tipperary's Andrew Ormond, Galway's Darragh Neary, and Dublin's Cian O'Sullivan will all be involved.
Three further hurlers who participated at the highest level will feature alongside players from the Joe McDonagh, Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard, and Lory Meagher Cups.
That collaborative approach is something O'Shea is relishing about the October 24 game at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. "The fact that there is an international dimension for the players, I suppose is one of the most important things," O'Shea says.
"It's across the competitions too, we're only allowed pick seven MacCarthy lads. So, the fact that it's a broad spectrum of player getting representation was attractive to me, to be honest.
"The game is also exciting. It's a kind of a throwback in our game in a sense that our game has evolved a bit differently. So, a lot of things attracted me to it."
O'Shea highlights the speed and skill required to compete in these internationals. "If you watch how quickly the ball moves up and down the pitch, it shifts away very quickly," O'Shea says.
Ireland Hurling/Shinty player Darragh Neary, Galway, Ireland Camogie/Shinty player Laura Hayes, Cork, Scotland Camogie/Shinty player Natalie McDonald, Lochaber Camanachd Club, and Scotland Hurling/Shinty player Rory Kennedy, Newtonmore Camanachd Club, pictured at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
"There's also a one on one competition in a lot of places. Again, I've to see this in real time. Looking at the games over the last number of years and intensely over the last number of weeks, the fact the game is so quick.
"I say it's a throwback in the sense I remember, I played club hurling in the late 1970s and inter-county hurling in the 80s, the game was very different then. It has rightly evolved into a very different game. Now, games evolve even quicker now. You're talking about five or 10 year turnarounds in terms of structural changes in the game.
"It's interesting to go back to see in terms for me to experience again. It's also the speed of the game. That speed in the game was something that was thrilling to me as a young fella when I was first introduced to the game.
"It's still thrilling to me in terms of the movement of the ball, the competition, the actual physical contest."
O'Shea is expecting a nice occasion at the splendid Leeside venue."I think families and how it's marketed will obviously make a big difference, but I'm looking forward to a good crowd here," O'Shea says.
"This is hurling territory. The Camogie match as well is really attractive because Cork have been really, really dominating Camogie.
"So, you'll get two good games. I think you'll get a very good crowd and really encourage people, families and kids as well to come along, because we'll certainly be trying to win."
Tickets for the Hurling/Shinty and Camogie/Shinty Internationals are now available to buy here.
