Hurling/Shinty International: Ireland v Scotland
(today, Croke Park, 4.35pm, live on RTE Two)
NEAL McAuley claims you have to be a “bit mad” to play hurling/shinty, but if anything today’s match against Scotland in Croke Park offers a form of respite for the Antrim hurler.
Three weeks ago the 28-year-old became a proud father for the second time when his wife Becky brought Cillian into the world.
And while McAuley admits it isn’t just his wife who’s been having sleepless nights, the Ballycastle man is itching to line out for Ireland after withdrawing from last month’s match in Scotland.
“I missed the match in Inverness because the wee boy was being born, so I’m definitely looking forward to being involved,” said McAuley.
“I probably won’t be playing much but I’m happy to be involved and hopefully I get some game time.
“I’ve been a bit sleep deprived but I’ll get a full night’s sleep on Friday night because we’re staying down the night before which will be good. It’s heavy-going but you get used to it after a while and the rewards outweigh the negatives.”
Ireland have dominated the international series since the turn of the decade, but managers Jeffrey Lynskey and Dunloy’s Gregory O’Kane will be looking to make amends after losing by 3-15 to 2-8 in Inverness last month.
One source of confusion has been an adjustment to the annual competition’s format – normally decided on aggregate over two legs, this year’s home and away matches are standalone fixtures. McAuley claims this change has affected the dynamic of the series – possibly to Ireland’s benefit.
“The Irish guys were under the impression it was over two matches, but the Scots were under the impression it was only one match in Inverness,” he said.
“We’ll be going out to try and win obviously, but the Scottish guys might think if they lose it isn’t a big deal because they think they’ve already won the cup.
“But there’s been a good bit of rivalry between the two in the last couple of years. It’s a similar set of players usually playing and the rivalry’s always been quite intense.”
By now a relatively experienced practitioner of the hybrid game, McAuley believes a certain fearlessness is a huge asset for the budding shinty-hurler.
“You just have to be a bit mad, a bit crazy. It’s different, it’s not hurling, it’s not shinty, you have to have a bit of experience of how to play it to be good at it and it takes a couple of games.
“Last year was my second time playing at senior level. I’ve also played at U21 level so I’ve played a good few games at this stage.”
Traditionally criticised for not attracting the cream of Irish hurling, in recent years more high-profile players have taken to the sport. Ireland’s management team can call upon the likes of the 2015 Hurler of the Year, Kilkenny’s TJ Reid, 2013 Clare Allstar David McInerney and current Waterford Allstar Maurice Shanahan – and unsurprisingly McAuley welcomes the opportunity to play with some of the game’s biggest names.
“You can always look back in years ahead and say you played with TJ Reid in Croke Park so it’s a nice one. I’m sure it’s good for those guys as well to bond with players from different counties.”
If Ireland gain revenge for the upset in Inverness, it’ll be a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for McAuley. Ballycastle surrendered a nine-point lead in the Antrim SHC final against Cushendall, and the inter-county seniors endured a miserable season with relegation to Division 2A of the National League and the Christy Ring Cup.
Regardless, the centre-back’s passion for the game remains undiminished, and he has recently committed to what will be an eleventh season in the Saffron colours.
“Every year’s different. I’ve never really had much success with hurling but you just keep going – we love the game so we keep playing it.”
McAuley is also hopeful about the appointment of PJ O’Mullan jnr as the new Antrim hurling manager.
“I’m just glad it was sorted and that we can get back to training. He’s assembled a decent backroom team by all accounts and it’ll be good to hit the ground running in January in the league.
“We’ll see if we can develop players a bit more and if we can have a run in the championship. But it’s a long-term goal that they’ll be trying to set.”
