Gerard Walsh relishing another Hurling-Shinty International
Gerard Walsh of Ireland is tackled by Ruaridh Anderson of Scotland during the Shinty International match between Ireland and Scotland at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
For most of the Ireland team, Saturday’s Shinty-Hurling International against Scotland will be their first experience of the compromise code.
Not so Antrim defender, Gerard Walsh, who’s pretty much a gnarled veteran of the sport at this stage.
This will be his third time to play a senior international against the Scots, and he also played against them for a couple of years at U20 level.
There’s a reason that the O’Donovan Rossa man keeps getting asked to wear the green jersey.
His toughness, clean striking, and swashbuckling ability to play first-time hurling make him a natural in the compromise code.
Considering how well he played for Ireland in their 2025 and 2024 victories over the Scots, it’s no surprise to hear that it’s a sport the Saffron defender relishes.
“I suppose I enjoy the fact that you get to do things that you probably wouldn't usually do in normal hurling,” he told GAA.ie
“In hurling you have to get the ball in your hand and pick a pass and keep your eyes up and see what's ahead of you and scan and stuff like that.
"Eerything is supposed to be fairly calm and measured and structured, whereas with the Shinty you don’t have much time on the ball so you just have to get it on the stick and let it rip down the field.
“Nobody plays hurling like that anymore really, so it's a novel enough game. There's no systems of play or tactics or anything like that, it's near enough just go out and hurl it.
“I enjoy it as well because there's a lot of contests that you don't usually get in hurling anymore and it's nice to free up and let go.”
Does he have any tips for his less experienced team-mates about how best to adapt to the unique demands of the game?
“I suppose you have to be a bit wary to protect yourself," he says. "You're either in or you're out. You don't want to be caught in that no-man's-land where you're caught on the end of a shinty stick. If you're not fairly committed and in and tight and close on a tackle, you can near enough be better to stay away.
“But, no, apart from that, there isn't too much. Eamonn (O’Shea) and the lads have covered all bases in fairness to them now, with the coaching over the last couple of weeks.
“They've really adopted and got to know it and some of the things that they've been telling us and teaching us are spot on. They all make sense to me anyway, so I think they have all the bases covered without me having to give them any more advice to lads.”
Gerard Walsh and Tom Morrissey of Ireland celebrate after the Shinty International match between Ireland and Scotland at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile.
Walsh has played the Scots enough times now to have the utmost of respect for the skillset and attitude to bring to the game.
“They can strike some distance and they're seriously skilled lads," he says. "I don't know how they're able to manipulate and pass the ball and move it about the pitch with what they use. They are seriously talented athletes.
“It means the world to them too, you can see the pride that they have in representing their nation, and the same with our lads. The opportunity doesn't come around too often to represent your country, and it is a complete honour to be selected. I'd say all the lads are buzzing to get into it, it really is truly an honour to represent Ireland.
“It's nice to see that it's not just an event, it's not just an occasion, it's not just a novelty, it's actually a proper competition and it's always a good contest.
“We've been very lucky to beat the Scots the last two years. They obviously train hard for it and give their best shot to come at it with a plan of attack and I suppose we do the same.
“It's not just a tick box exercise, it is a great honour and a great occasion. At the end of the day, we're all competitors so we definitely want to be winning it again.”
Tickets for the Shinty-Hurling/Camoge Internationals are available here.
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).