Séamus Harnedy looking forward to swapping red of Cork for green of Ireland

By John Harrington

When Seamus Harnedy announced his retirement from inter-county hurling earlier this month he thought the experience of playing big matches in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh were now a thing of the past.

But then Eamon O’Shea rang him up to ask him would he join his Ireland panel for Saturday’s Shinty-Hurling International against Scotland, and the St. Ita's cluman jumped at the opportunity

“Finishing up my intercounty career, I probably didn’t envisage being asked to do this, but it’s a great opportunity and I’m delighted to be involved,” says Harnedy.

“Talking to lads who had played it before, it was a no-brainer. They told me about the physicality of the game and how the Scots bring a lot of it to the contest. They’re very passionate about it.

“I thought my days of getting back to the Páirc might be over, so it’ll be incredibly nice to be there.

“Having looked at the rules and watched previous games over the last few days, it’s alien to a GAA player that you can’t catch the ball.

“Even if the ball hits the ground in a ruck, you can’t kick it out of there. It’s going to pose a huge challenge for us, but it’s very exciting and a great opportunity to play in Cork and meet lads from other counties.”

Harnedy has no regrets about his decision to call time on his 15-year inter-county career, even if he would have liked to have seen a bit more game time for the Rebels this season than he did.

“Did I sometimes think I deserved a little bit more? Yes, I did. But that’s the nature of sport.

“I’d received the benefit of the doubt so many times throughout my career, and perhaps my run was coming to an end. I’m still incredibly grateful that I went back in last year.

"I look back on my time there with immense gratitude. I think it had run its course for me.

"I’m 36, turning 37 next year, and I’m building a house at the moment and trying to do some of the work myself. It was time to go.

"I heard Shane O’Donnell talking recently about his decision to step away and he used the phrase 'opportunity cost', referring to the amount of time he was putting into it and what he was getting out of it. That resonated with me.

"The investment has been massive, probably more so than ever before. When I started in 2012 or 2013, I don’t think the time commitment was anything like it is now."

Harnedy believes he would have finished up with inter-county hurling much earlier than he did were it not for the influence of former Cork manager, Pat Ryan.

“I was going to step away after 2022, and the county board’s decision to appoint Pat as manager was a major factor in my decision to continue,” admits Harnedy.

“There were two pivotal moments in my career – 2017 and 2023. We won Munster in 2017 and Pat’s coaching, working alongside Kieran Kingston, was hugely important. He’s a wonderful mentor and a wonderful person.

“Patrick Horgan has spoken about how Pat put Cork before himself during a difficult year a couple of years ago. Some of the leaders in the group thought we were going to lose him, but he stayed with us.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Pat Ryan. He’s a brilliant coach who sees the game differently to most people. He’s also an incredibly nice, genuine man who was very important to me throughout my career.”

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).