Scotland captain Norman Campbell hopes added forward firepower can inspire his team to victory against the Irish in tomorrow’s shinty-hurling international at Dublin’s Croke Park.
The 34-year-old Newtonmore full back has been playing for his country since making the under-21 side at the age of 17 and no one in the modern era has played for Scotland more often at senior level.
As they flew out from Inverness to Dublin yesterday, Campbell, who has three times won the silver medal for man of the match in the senior series, said: “Playing at a great arena like Croke Park really lifts both teams, but I think we’re better equipped to do well than we’ve been for several years.
“We didn’t take our chances last year and the Irish punished us. In former years we had the likes of Victor Smith, Ronald Ross and James Clark who could adapt to shinty-hurling and finish superbly.
“We rather lost that touch when they stepped down – but this year we’ve got guys such as Lee Bain of Kingussie and my clubmates Glen Mackintosh and Fraser Mackintosh who have the strength and flair to make an impact.
“I think we’ve got a particularly strong squad this year and reducing a goal from five points to three works in our favour.”
Manager Drew McNeil confirmed new cap Liam MacDonald of Kilmallie is likely to be a surprise name in his starting line-up.
“Liam has impressed me in the preparation sessions and he can play wide as well as midfield or up front,” said McNeil.
“His style could ask questions of Ireland.”
Conor Cormack, the strapping Beauly full back who is his club’s first senior cap for many years, is another debutant set to go straight in.
“Conor’s height and power are an advantage against a tall Ireland front line and I think he’s got the temperament to go straight in,” added the manager.
McNeil, in his fourth year in charge, is set to scrap last year’s tactics of playing an extra man up front plus an additional defender. Scotland will reinforce the midfield to give more opportunity of points over the bar, something at which Kevin Bartlett of Lovat has proved outstanding.
His toughest choice is who starts in goal, with two in-form goalkeepers in Stuart Mackintosh of Glenurquhart, the number one for several years, and Lovat’s Stuart MacDonald. The odds are that both will figure at some stage.
Captain Campbell is an automatic choice and McNeil said: “Norman has been an inspiration and an example to young players with his commitment at international level.”