# Ireland national hurling team

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
* (Team at 5 November 2006 versus Scotland)

### 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
* (Team versus Scotland at Nowlan Park; 18 October 2008 at 15:00)

### 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

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Note(s) |
| 2 August 1924 | Scotland | Croke Park, Dublin | Loss | 1-0 – 2-0 | 1924 Aonach Tailteann |
| 3 August 1924 | United States | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 4-3 – 1-3 | 1924 Aonach Tailteann |
| 4 August 1924 | England | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 9-3 – 4-7 | 1924 Aonach Tailteann |
| 8 August 1924 | Wales | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 5-4 – 2-6 | 1924 Aonach Tailteann |
| 9 August 1924 | Scotland | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 10-1 – 4-5 | 1924 Aonach Tailteann |
| 10 August 1924 | United States | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 4-6 – 3-2 | 1924 Aonach Tailteann |
| 12 August 1928 | United States | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 5-9 – 4-3 | 1928 Aonach Tailteann |
| 29 June 1932 | Scotland | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 6-0 – 1-0 | 1932 Aonach Tailteann |
| 3 July 1932 | United States | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 9-7 – 3-6 | 1932 Aonach Tailteann |
| 2 March 1952 | Combined Universities | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 3-14 – 1-6 | |
| 1 March 1953 | Combined Universities | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 5-9 – 3-2 | |
| 7 March 1954 | Combined Universities | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 3-13 – 1-4 | |
| 6 March 1955 | Combined Universities | Croke Park, Dublin | Loss | 2-4 – 2-6 | |
| 18 March 1956 | Combined Universities | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 4-12 – 3-6 | |
| 5 August 1972 | Scotland | Bught Park, Inverness | Win | 6-4 – 4-5 | |
| 19 May 1973 | Scotland | Croke Park, Dublin | Win | 2-15 – 2-7 | |
| 20 October 2018 | Scotland | Bught Park, Inverness | Loss | 1-9 – 1-11 | |
| 2 November 2019 | Scotland | National Games Development Centre, Dublin | Loss | 0-4 – 5-11 | |
| 21 October 2023 | Scotland | Páirc Esler, Newry | Win | 0-22 – 2-8 | |
| 26 October 2024 | Scotland | Cusack Park, Ennis | Win | 3-16 – 5-7 (a.e.t.) | |