Ireland national hurling team

Ireland
UnionGaelic Athletic Association
Ground(s)Croke Park, Dublin
Coach(es)Willie Maher
Conor Phelan
Captain(s)Danny Cullen
Team kit
First international
Scotland Scotland 2 – 1 Ireland Republic of Ireland
(Dublin, Ireland; 2 August 1924)
Largest win
Republic of Ireland Ireland 8-11 – 4-3 Scotland Scotland
(Ennis, Ireland; 27 October 2012)
Largest defeat
Scotland Scotland 5-11 – 0-4 Ireland Republic of Ireland
(Abbotstown, Ireland; 2 November 2019)

The Ireland national hurling team is a representative team for the island of Ireland in the hybrid sport of composite rules shinty–hurling.

The team dates from 1924 when Ireland competed at the Aonach Tailteann against national hurling teams from several countries.[1] However, at present the only team it plays is the Scotland national shinty team, on an annual basis in the Shinty–Hurling International Series.

The team is usually made up of a mixture of high-profile hurlers who compete in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship as well as lesser-known players who play for smaller counties which traditionally compete in the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups.[2] The managers of the senior men's team during the most recent series in 2019 were Willie Maher and Conor Phelan. Danny Cullen of Donegal captained the team in 2019.[3][4]

History

Aonach Tailteann

The first international hurling competition to be held was at the Aonach Tailteann in 1924. Teams from Ireland, the United States, England, Scotland, and Wales participated in the hurling tournament. The Scotland national shinty team also participated in the games, inflicting a surprise 2-0 to 1-0 defeat on Ireland on the opening day of the games. However, Ireland won all of its matches in the hurling tournament.[5] At the 1928 Aonach Tailteann, Ireland and the United States were the only participants in the hurling tournament, with Ireland securing a 5-9 to 4-3 victory. The final Aonach Tailteann in 1932 saw four teams competing; Ireland, the United States, Great Britain, and South Africa.[6]

International shinty–hurling matches

On 14 October 1933, representatives of the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Camanachd Association agreed to new rules governing international matches. An international compromise rules match was planned for Easter of the following year. However, the Camanachd Association broke off its links with the GAA following pressure from the British government.[7][8]

As a result of continued Camanachd Association opposition to links with the GAA, the next full international between Ireland and Scotland would not be held until 1972. On 5 August 1972, Ireland defeated Scotland 6-4 to 4-5 at Bught Park, Inverness. Further internationals were held each year during the 1970s, apart from 1975. No full internationals were played between 1980 and 1987, but in 1988 the series was revived.[9]

Match results

Date Opponent Venue Result Score
2 August 1924 Scotland Scotland Loss 1–2
3 August 1924 United States United States Win 4-3 – 1-3
4 August 1924 England England Win 9-3 – 4-7
8 August 1924 Wales Wales Win 5-4 – 2-6
9 August 1924 Scotland Scotland Win 10-1 – 4-5
10 August 1924 United States United States Win 4-6 – 3-2
August 1928 United States United States Croke Park, Dublin Win 5-9 – 4-3
1932 United States United States Win 9-7 – 3-6
1932 Scotland Scotland Win 6–1
5 August 1972 Scotland Scotland Bught Park, Inverness Win 6-4 – 4-5
19 May 1973 Scotland Scotland Croke Park, Dublin Win 2-15 – 2-7

See also

References

  1. ^ The Gaelic Athletic Annual, 1927-28. Kilkenny, Irish Free State. 1927. p. 47.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ "Preview: Hurling/Shinty International First Test". GAA.ie. 22 October 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015.
  3. ^ McNulty, Chris (31 October 2019). "Danny Cullen to captain Irish squad for Shinty International". Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  4. ^ Barry, Stephen (31 October 2019). "19 counties represented in Ireland squads for Hurling-Shinty Internationals". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 October 2019. Donegal's Danny Cullen will captain a team which includes Laois stalwarts Willie Dunphy and Ryan Mullaney, Kerry's Mikey Boyle and Shane Nolan, and Westmeath duo Joey Boyle and Shane McGovern.
  5. ^ M. Bradley, Joseph (1998). Sport, culture, politics and Scottish society: Irish immigrants and the Gaelic Athletic Association. Edinburgh: John Donald. p. 49. ISBN 0-85976-481-8.
  6. ^ The Gaelic Athletic Annual 1934-5. Dublin. 1934. p. 46.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ M. Bradley, Joseph (1999). "The Gaelic athletic association and the Irish diaspora in Scotland, 1897–1947". The International Journal of the History of Sport. 16 (3): 143. doi:10.1080/09523369908714089. PMID 21877346.
  8. ^ J. King, Seamus (1998). The clash of the ash in foreign fields: hurling abroad. Cashel: Seamus J. King. pp. 77–8. ISBN 0-9533513-0-0.
  9. ^ J. King, Seamus (1998). The clash of the ash in foreign fields: hurling abroad. Cashel: Seamus J. King. pp. 83, 183–4. ISBN 0-9533513-0-0.