Published: Thursday, 20th November, 2008 07:15
Aberdour Shinty Club savours Scotland success
By Simon Harris
Comments (0)
Print Article
Aberdour's Scotland quartet, from left, Alister Shaw, Lisa Norman, Katy Smith and Alasdair Hutt.
Pic by: Dunfermline Press
ABERDOUR Shinty Club capped another outstanding season with success at Scotland level for four players.
Club coach and founder Lisa Norman captained Scotland’s women to a third successive victory against their Irish counterparts in a shinty/camogie international at Kilkenny alongside clubmate Katy Smith.
And teenagers Alister Shaw and Alasdair Hutt helped Scotland under-17s beat an Ulster select.
Lisa and Katy helped Scotland to a nerve-jangling 8-7 victory with two goals and two points to the Irish two goals and one point at Kilkenny’s famous Nowlan Park, rated the second best venue in Ireland after Croke Park.
“We were losing by two points 10 minutes before the end so I thought it was all over,” Lisa told Press Sport.
“But we scored a last minute goal so we went ahead by one point and it went down to the wire.
“It was a relief when the final whistle went.
“To captain the team was absolutely brilliant. It’s the first year the game was played in such a big stadium.
“Kilkenny is one of the greatest hurling teams in Ireland and they had all their trophies on display in the tunnel as we went out.
“It’s the biggest bits of silver you have seen in your life!
“To play in that location and on that fantastic pitch made it all the more special.”
While several boys from the club have made Scotland development squads, none have made the top team and so Shaw and Hutt were the first two boys from the club to make the national team and represent Scotland at under-17 level.
On a fantastically sunny autumn afternoon in Oban they joined the rest of the Scotland team to take on an Ulster side selected from the best players from the Ulster counties.
The pair were two of just six players from the south of Scotland in the 20-man squad and both played well as Scotland beat Ulster 20-12 with six goals and two points to Ulster’s three goals and three points.
“Considering they’re up against clubs from Oban and Argyll, it’s a pretty big achievement for them to have been selected,” Lisa said.
“These boys have been playing with us since they were just eight so it shows how far the club has progressed.”
The club is to have a civic reception hosted by the Provost later this month to honour their achievements and Lisa admitted, “This was a really special year.
“For the club it has been a fantastic season.
“After winning the under-14 national title and now to have four players from Aberdour Shinty Club represent Scotland and win is the icing on the cake,” she added.
Lisa started Aberdour Shinty Club from scratch in 2001.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Pars boss gets go-ahead to strengthen for title push