Conor Phelan takes charge of the Ireland Senior Hurling-Shinty international team alongside William Maher again this year.
Saturday November 2
2019 Senior Hurling-Shinty International
Ireland v Scotland, GAA National Games Development Centre, Abbotstown, 2pm (The game will be streamed live on GAA.ie and TG4's YouTube channel)
By Cian O’Connell
For Conor Phelan and William Maher, the joint managers of Ireland’s Senior Hurling-Shinty International team, it was so nearly a remarkable weekend.
On Saturday Phelan and Maher take charge of Ireland against Scotland in Abbotstown, but they were very nearly in opposite camps in the AIB Leinster Club Hurling Championship on Sunday.
Maher has steered Cuala back to the summit in Dublin, while Phelan was over Mount Leinster Rangers in Carlow.
St Mullins, though, prevailed and will now meet Cuala at Netwatch Cullen Park this weekend ensuring Phelan and Maher won’t collide 24.
“If Mount Leinster Rangers had won that I'd have been against Willie's Cuala, we have a close relationship, but that didn't materialise,” Phelan laughs.
“It would have been a busy weekend, but it didn't materialise. I was involved with them this year, Brendan Fennelly passed away, he came down sick, I had got involved there last Christmas.
“Mount Leinster Rangers have a great bunch to be involved with and have three lads involved on Saturday. Michael Doyle is with the seniors, Tony Lawler and Chris Nolan are with the Under 21s.
“That is a good representation. The Under 21s have a strong squad travelling up so it will be interesting to see how both teams get on.”
Phelan remains a keen advocate of the Hurling-Shinty internationals and this will be his fifth year involved with an Irish outfit alongside Maher.
Joint Ireland Hurling-Shinty international managers Willie Maher and Conor Phelan.
Two matches at Under 21 level have been followed by another couple in the senior ranks so Phelan is adamant about the benefits and is looking forward to a game on Irish soil.
“Yeah, this is Willie and myself's fifth year involved and this is the first time we've had a home match,” Phelan says.
“So for the last four years we have been away. It is definitely different with the itinerary, we are closer to home so maybe we can get things that bit more organised.
“It is just trying to get all of the players together, that is always the hardest thing. You want to have a look at lads, to have a couple of trials and training matches then. Tyring to get the squad together is the most difficult thing every year.”
Such a positive reaction from players throughout the country meant that Phelan and Maher have tweaked their selection approach.
“The way things fell this year we had a huge amount coming to the trials,” Phelan explains. “So we have picked 20 on the panel, with a spread of 13 or 14 different counties.
“We have no Tier One counties there because we had 55-60 that came to the first trial. In fairness to them it is a great opportunity for them to represent and the All Star weekend was on the Friday night. It is just trying to balance all that.”
Phelan is delighted that so many emerging hurlers from less heralded places are afforded an opportunity to shine in an Irish jersey.
“100%, and you have to factor in that you have 25 or 30 lads that we didn't pick,” Phelan replies. “It is hard not to give them an opportunity either.
Ireland Hurling Shinty International captain Danny Cullen.
“There is a very high standard and it is a great opportunity for the so called and perceived lower Tier counties, for players to represent Ireland. It is great for them to challenge themselves against the elite shinty guys in Scotland.”
So how many of the Irish players selected have been exposed to performing against Scotland previously?
“We have about five who played before in the panel of 20,” Phelan states. “Danny Cullen from Donegal has played two or three years now, he is going to be our captain this year. Damien Healy from Meath has played, Ryan Mullaney from Laois, he played Under 21 last year.
“Seanie Whelan from Carlow has played Under 21 before when it was Under 21. There is a nice mix, but it is about trying to get that balance between all the counties and between lads who have played it before and giving opportunities to guys to play, to represent Ireland.
“It is a huge honour for Willie and myself to be involved in the management, but also for the players themselves.”
The Ireland panel will gather in the capital on Friday and Phelan is certain that this is a worthwhile occasion for everyone involved
“Yeah, 100%, in fairness to Pat Daly, Aine (Gibney), and Kayleen (Iwasaki) in Croke Park they have been super,” Phelan remarks.
“For us we just have to turn up, go to trials, have a chat with the lads, try to manage the players, manage expectations, and try to get everyone together
“For ourselves too to be mixing with lads from Sligo, Kerry, Derry, Roscommon, Down, Offaly, Laois, Carlow, we have a nice mix of players. It is good for them. A couple of them know each other from playing with colleges and stuff, playing in the Christy Ring, Joe McDonagh so it is a nice opportunity.
Conor Phelan continues to enjoy being involved with the Irish Hurling Shinty international team.
“It really is about trying to get them to gel over a short period of time is the most difficult thing. You have a couple of sessions with them and you are trying to see what positions will suit a certain player in this game and for them to get to know the rules quickly over that short period of time.
“Over the last number of years the Scottish team - and they have beaten us over the last three years - it is about being a little bit more competitive and giving the lads the opportunity to play. Hopefully if they pick up the skills pretty quickly we will be there or thereabouts.”
With such a liberal sprinkling of counties and clubs represented Phelan is thrilled that the players are exposed to playing in such an environment.
“Definitely, it is a high standard,” Phelan adds. “The Scottish team last year had trained for 25 or 30 sessions in preparation for the match.
“We probably wouldn't have the same access to the players. We have only done four sessions and three of them were trial matches.
“Again it is just trying to get a group of guys together. What Willie and I are looking for is lads with a good attitude, who will take it seriously, obviously embrace it, and obviously have a good standard of hurling too.
“You want them to have a good knowledge about the game and it is great for both players and management to rub shoulders with each other.
“Willie and I have been involved with the Under 21s for two years and this is our third year with the seniors. We have built up an awful lot of contacts over a short period of time with guys from a lot of counties.”
Phelan and Maher’s passion for the Hurling-Shinty international doesn’t show any signs of waning ensuring Saturday’s encounter at the GAA’s National Development Centre carries significance.
