Eoin Cody scored 3-2 for Ireland against Scotland at Cusack Park. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile
Senior Hurling/Shinty international
Ireland 3-16 Scotland 5-7
After extra-time
By Paul Keane at Cusack Park, Ennis
A hat-trick from Kilkenny's Eoin Cody propelled Ireland to international success in Ennis but it was a close-run thing and it took the hosts a whopping 100 minutes to get the job done in Ennis.
Local hero Aidan McCarthy, an All-Ireland winner with Clare this year, pushed the game to extra-time with an equalising point in the third minute of stoppage time.
It was as much as Ireland deserved as they'd led by two before Scotland struck their fourth goal two minutes into stoppage time.
Ireland were the dominant force then in the additional 20 minutes, reeling off 1-3 in the first-half of extra-time to finally set the seal on victory and back-to-back titles.
Cody's third goal in the 91st minute was worthy of settling the contest as he beat his man with a neat flick along the left endline and hammered home from a tight angle.
Cody finished with 3-2 in all while free-taker McCarthy helped himself to nine points. There were strong performances too from goalkeeper Enda Rowland, centre-back Cianan Fahy and Kilkenny's Martin Keoghan.
Ireland brought a 20-man squad to the south-west containing players from all five tiers of the game as they chased a ninth series win.
Seven came from the MacCarthy Cup including All-Ireland winning local heroes McCarthy and Shane Meehan.
The teams were permitted to start 14 players, structured in a five-three-five formation, with six substitutes who were rolled on and off throughout the 80-minute encounter.
Joint manager Sambo McNaughton predicted that Scotland would bring 'blood and thunder' to Ennis and he was proven correct.
Garry Reid's side brought a high skill set too with 39-year-old Finlay MacRae, making his 21st international appearance, remarkably controlling the sliotar on his chest at one stage.
Outfield players cannot catch the ball in the hybrid game and, on another occasion, MacRae took it out of the air soccer style on his thigh.
Scotland's second goal, an 18th minute effort from Daniel MacVicar, was eye-catching too as he rose up high and flicked a delivery from the right wing to the net.
Ruaridh Anderson's earlier goal for Scotland was more about brute force as he pulled from close range.
With the same scoring system in place as hurling, Scotland led 2-2 to 0-1 after 18 minutes but Cody's first goal three minutes later hauled Ireland back.
Down's Daithi Sands tore through the centre and fed Cody who controlled on the hurl and struck to the net.
Cody's Cats colleague Keoghan hit a cracking point after a terrific solo run to leave a goal down at half-time, 2-4 to 1-4.
Ireland could have led themselves as Longford's Cian Darcy had no less than three first-half goal chances and there were eight wides.
Cody was terrific in the third quarter, pulling off the same piece of skill for a goal and a point.
Twice he flicked the ball into space on the left wing and raced goalwards, pointing on the first occasion and then hammering to the net minutes later.
But a third Scotland goal, this time from Craig Morrison who followed up on Anderson's blocked shot, meant three points still separated them, 3-6 to 2-6.
Ireland had momentum though and were back on level terms after 65 minutes following back-to-back McCarthy points and a beauty from Killian Sampson.
They surged two clear late on following points from crowd favourites Meehan and McCarthy only for Scotland to dramatically snatch a fourth goal in stoppage time.
Now they led by a point but McCarthy pushed the game to extra-time and Ireland's strong first-half put them back in a commanding position.
They were six clear at the death when Scotland struck their fifth goal, a second for Morrison.
Scorers for Ireland: Eoin Cody 3-2, Aidan McCarthy 0-9 (0-4f, 0-2 65), Martin Keoghan 0-2, Eoghan Cahill 0-1, Killian Sampson 0-1, Shane Meehan 0-1.
Scorers for Scotland: Craig Morrison 2-0 (1-0f), Kevin Bartlett 0-4 (0-4f), Ruaridh Anderson 1-0, Daniel MacVicar 1-0, Lachie Shaw 1-0, Steven MacDonald 0-3 (0-3f).
Ireland: Enda Rowland (Laois); Ben Conneely (Offaly), Dan Morrissey (Limerick); Gerard Walsh (Antrim), Cianan Fahy (Galway), Killian Sampson (Offaly); Caolan Taggart (Down), Jason Sampson (Offaly), Shane Meehan (Clare); Aidan McCarthy (Clare), Martin Keoghan (Kilkenny), Tomas Keyes (Laois); Eoin Cody (Kilkenny), Cian Darcy (Longford).
Interchange: Eoghan Cahill (Offaly), Steven McBride (Donegal), Luca McCusker (Fermanagh), Tom Morrissey (Limerick), Daithi Sands (Down), James Toher (Meath).
Scotland: Stuart MacDonald; Finlay MacRae, Robert Mabon; Alexander Michie, Blair Morrison, Conor Cormack; Steven MacDonald, Donald Nixon, Craig Mainland; Kevin Bartlett, Roddy MacDonald, Ruaridh Anderson; Daniel MacVicar, Craig Morrison.
Interchange: Cameron Sutherland, John Gillies, Danny Kelly, Andy MacDonald, Lachie Shaw, Ben Delaney.
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway).
