Enda Rowland ready to lead his country as Scotland aim to reassert recent dominance

Ireland v Scotland, Cusack Park, 3.30pm

Having marked its post-Covid return with an Irish victory in Newry last year, the shinty-hurling international makes its way to Cusack Park this afternoon with Scotland aiming to regain control of a competition they have really dominated in recent times.

Last year's Mowi Quaich success – when goalkeeper Enda Rowland, Neil McManus and Peter Duggan caught the eye – had been Ireland’s first win since 2014 when the return leg was also held in Newry.

That was the sixth leg of a six in-a-row for Ireland, but Scotland have won five of the last six as the game moved from a traditional two-game series to a one-match contest.

The hosts are jointly managed by Kilkenny’s Michael Kavanagh, a former player and selector in the series, and Terence McNaughton, who could maybe land a sliothar in Scotland from his Cushendall home if the wind was behind him.

Eleven counties are represented in all with six returnees from last year – 2024 captain Rowland (Laois), Luca McCusker (Fermanagh), James Toher (Meath), Eoghan Cahill (Offaly), Ben Conneely (Offaly) and Caolan Taggart (Down). The latter was a late withdrawal from playing duties last year as it fell on the same weekend as Portaferry’s Down final, his side winning at the same venue the very next day, but 'CT’ remained with the Irish squad and is one of the more experienced members of the panel having also been there in 2019.

Kilkenny pair Eoin Cody and Martin Keoghan, Limerick’s Dan and Tom Morrissey and hometown man Aidan McCarthy are some of the star names that will be operating in Clare.

Scotland too have brought some of their big-name players over.

When it comes to famous Roberts who play shinty, you can’t beat world No 16 ranked golfer Robert