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. 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 comprises a mixture of hurlers who compete in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, as well as players of county teams competing in the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups. The managers of the senior men's team during the most recent series in 2024 were Michael Kavanagh and Terence McNaughton, with Enda Rowland of Laois as captain.

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 2–1 defeat of Ireland on the opening day of the games. However, Ireland won all of its matches in the hurling tournament. 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.

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.

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 by 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.

Combined Universities v (Rest of) Ireland matches During the 1950s, a number of exhibition matches were played between an Ireland representative team and Combined Universities, representing third level institutions.

Squads 2006 1 Graham Clarke 2 Geoffrey Bermingham 3 Declan Coulter 4 Clement Cunniffe 5 Kieran Divilly 6 Paul Gannon 7 Andrew Gaul 8 James Glancy 9 John Griffin 10 Michael Kettle 11 Tom Lennon 12 Paul McCormack 13 Kevin McGarry 14 Ray Mulry

Subs: Michael O'Neill Paudie Reidy Gary Savage Des Shaw

Coach: Seán Silke

2008 Source for squad announcement:

1 Graham Clarke (Down) 2 Des Shaw (Carlow) 3 Edward Coady (Carlow) 4 Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) 5 Shane Cavanagh (Carlow, capt) 6 Geoffrey Bermingham (Wicklow) 7 Dermot Clarke (Sligo) 8 Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork) 9 Derek Lyng (Kilkenny) 10 Paul Braniff (Down) 11 Michael Burke (Meath) 12 Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny) 13 Brendan McGourty (Down) 14 Brendan Murtagh (Westmeath)

Substitutes: John Shaw (Westmeath) James Glancy (Leitrim) Stephen Kelly (Wicklow) Michael Gilmartin (Sligo) Declan Coulter

Coach: Lester Ryan

2010 1 Paul Dermody 2 Arron Graffin 3 Darren McCormack 4 Tom Murnane 5 Jackie Tyrrell 6 Eoin Nolan 7 Tommy Walsh (c) 8 Neil McManus 9 Willie Hyland 10 Gareth Johnston 11 Shane Dooley 12 Barry McFall 13 Brendan Murtagh 14 John Rowney

Subs Steven Clynch Paul McCormack Patrick Horgan Andrew O'Brien Jackie Tyrrell

Manager Joe Dooley

2011 1 Patrick Mullaney 2 Joe Bergin 3 Kieran Divilly 4 Cormac Donnelly 5 John Doran 6 Aaron Griffin 7 Willie Hyland 8 Eoin Kelly 9 David Kennedy 10 Damian Maguire 11 Brendan Maher 12 Shane Morley 13 Tom Murnane 14 Brendan Murtagh 15 Eoin Nolan 16 Andy O'Brien 17 Eoin Price 18 Michael Rice (c)

Managers Joe Dooley Kevin Ryan Jim McKernan

2012

1 Bernard Rochford 2 Joseph Clarke 3 Ciarán Clifford 4 Steven Clynch 5 Shane Dooley 6 Cormac Donnelly 7 Shane Fennell 8 Patrick Horgan 9 Neil McManus 10 Barry McFall 11 Tom Murnane 12 Brendan Murtagh 13 Darragh O'Connell 14 Shane O'Neill 15 Eoin Price (c) 16 Paudie Reidy 17 Des Shaw 18 Tommy Walsh

Joint managers John Meyler Michael Walsh

2013 1 Bernard Rochford 2 Danny Cullen 3 Paul Divilly 4 David English 5 Arron Graffin 6 Cahir Healy 7 Richie Hogan 8 Gareth Johnson 9 Jack Kavanagh 10 Brendan Maher 11 Patrick Maher 12 Kieran McKiernan 13 Neil McManus (c) 14 Derek McNicholas 15 Darragh O'Connell 16 Eoin Reilly 17 Shane O'Neill 18 Eoin Price 19 Conor Woods

Joint managers John Meyler Michael Walsh

2014 1 Eoin Reilly 2 Mickey Burke 3 Paul Dermody 4 Paul Divilly 5 John Egan 6 David English 7 Patrick Horgan 8 Conor Lehane 9 Patrick Maher 10 Conor McCann 11 Neal McAuley 12 Jonny McCusker 13 David McInerney 14 Brian Murphy 15 Shane Nolan 16 Darragh O'Connell 17 Eoin Price 18 Matthew Whelan 19 David Kettle

Manager Michael Walsh

2018 1 Enda Rowland 2 Brian Byrne 3 Damian Casey 4 John Casey 5 Darragh Clinton 6 Noel Connors 7 Danny Cullen 8 Tommy Doyle 9 Darragh Egerton 10 David English 11 Jason Forde 12 Damien Healy 13 Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch 14 Gavin McGowan 15 David McInerney 16 Bryan Murphy 17 John Michael Nolan 18 Stephen Roche 19 James Toher 20 Seán Weir

Manager William Maher

Match results

+DateOpponentVenueResultScoreNote(s)2 August 1924 ScotlandCroke Park, DublinLoss1-0 – 2-01924 Aonach Tailteann3 August 1924 United StatesCroke Park, DublinWin4-3 – 1-31924 Aonach Tailteann4 August 1924 EnglandCroke Park, DublinWin9-3 – 4-71924 Aonach Tailteann8 August 1924 WalesCroke Park, DublinWin5-4 – 2-61924 Aonach Tailteann9 August 1924 ScotlandCroke Park, DublinWin10-1 – 4-5 1924 Aonach Tailteann10 August 1924 United StatesCroke Park, DublinWin4-6 – 3-21924 Aonach Tailteann12 August 1928 United StatesCroke Park, DublinWin5-9 – 4-31928 Aonach Tailteann29 June 1932 ScotlandCroke Park, DublinWin6-0 – 1-01932 Aonach Tailteann3 July 1932 United StatesCroke Park, DublinWin9-7 – 3-61932 Aonach Tailteann2 March 1952Combined UniversitiesCroke Park, DublinWin3-14 – 1-61 March 1953Combined UniversitiesCroke Park, DublinWin5-9 – 3-27 March 1954Combined UniversitiesCroke Park, DublinWin3-13 – 1-46 March 1955Combined UniversitiesCroke Park, DublinLoss2-4 – 2-618 March 1956Combined UniversitiesCroke Park, DublinWin4-12 – 3-65 August 1972 ScotlandBught Park, InvernessWin6-4 – 4-519 May 1973 ScotlandCroke Park, DublinWin2-15 – 2-720 October 2018 ScotlandBught Park, InvernessLoss1-9 – 1-112 November 2019 ScotlandNational Games Development Centre, DublinLoss0-4 – 5-1121 October 2023 ScotlandPáirc Esler, NewryWin0-22 – 2-826 October 2024 ScotlandCusack Park, EnnisWin3-16 – 5-7 (a.e.t.)

See also Scotland national shinty team Shinty–Hurling International Series Ireland international rules football team

References