Last autumn some of the country's premier camogie players crossed camans with Scotland's finest shinty talent in a shinty/camogie international at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. Drumgoon's Margaret McCabe wore the Irish jersey with pride. Versatile Drumgoon dynamo Margaret McCabe has made quite a name for himself in the worlds of camogie and ladies football over the years. But just a few months ago, the highly-talented athlete took a significant step in adding to her expanding sporting portfolio by gaining an international 'cap' in an exciting hybrid game. Margaret, in tandem with fellow Cavan bluechip players, Majella Smith, Anne Donnellan and Roisin Martin, travelled to Nenagh after attending a trial at Na Fianna's ground in Dublin. Under the watchful eyes of joint-managers Caroline Murray and Jennifer Steede (former All-Ireland senior camogie medallists), all four did sufficiently well to earn places on the 20-strong Ireland shinty/camogie national squad to face Scotland. The annual shinty/camogie international test against Scotland was held in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny but the visitors ending up going home with the spoils. "We played well as a team but it was just unfortunate that we didn't get something out of the match at the end of the day because we lost by just a single point," Margaret recalls. "I thought for a long time that we were going to win the game because even though they had a better start, we were much the better team as the game wore on. "It looked good for us when we went into the lead late in the second half but then they got through for a goal in injury-time which was a real killer blow and the match-winner too." Margaret - daughter of Seanie and Mary McBride - scored Ireland's first goal against Scotland and was one of her country's stand-out players on the day. "She certainly made her mark," one observer at the game at Nowlan Park recalled. So what was Margaret's 'take' on the hybrid game and how did she find the experience of playing against foreign opposition? "It was brillant; definitely the highlight of my sporting career to date in terms of the camogie and football I've played over the years for the club and county," she enthuses. "It was most enjoyable and I was very proud to be able to wear the Ireland jersey. It was an experience of a life time and hopefully the opportunity will come around to play it again. "It's a very skilful and competitive game and completely different to camogie in a lot of ways but, in terms of skill levels, I still think camogie would edge it," the east Knockbride-based primary schoolteacher adds. "The fact that you can't kick the ball or handle it makes it a strange game for us to play and those rules in particular definitely take some getting used to. "There were mostly big and strong players on their team and maybe the fact that they could play with the stick they're used to gave them that bit of an edge. "Their stick is heavier and larger than our hurley stick and it gives them an advantage when reaching for the ball which means we have to be that faster to the ball than them. "Because we couldn't lift the ball into our hands, we had to focus harder than normal on perfecting our ground hurling but they were naturally more used to that style of game." Any sense of apprehension beforehand about partaking in such an, albeit, ongoing, experimental game? "A bit. It was strange at first to see the size of their stick which allows them to drive the ball further and harder and they were able to dribble better. "I found the game very fast, faster than camogie and the ball was much lighter than our sliotar and flew on the ground around the pitch which meant you had to be very fit and sharp to make use of the ball when it came your way. "They had a bit of advantage because I think the compromise rules were weighed a bit more in their favour. There was a bit of an imbalance there. "All the same, I think the game was a good advertisement for the sport and getting t.v exposure on TG4 was great," adds the 2008 Cavan senior camogie team-captain. Margaret explains that she and the rest of the Cavan contingent travelled down to the south-east on the Friday night prior to the game. After the game on Saturday, all the girls attended a Grand Ball later that night with their Scottish counterparts plus the Ireland and Scotland under 21 and senior men's team. Sunday marked the girls' return to their repective counties. A sporting affair all told then and an enjoyable social occasion too one suggests? "Absolutely. It was a very enjoyable match to play in but most of all it was a privilege to represent Cavan at such a high level of sport," says the St Pat's Drumcondra graduate. "It was a great weekend, from start to finish, and hopefully I'll get the opportunity to play against Scotland again and the fact that the next game is in Scotland would make it even more interesting to be involved. "Playing with some of the best camogie players in the country was great fun and being at Nowlan Park on the same day that some of the best hurlers were playing for Ireland, like Sean Og O hAilpin, Eddie Brennan and Eddie Walsh, added to the occasion. "It was disappointing to lose by such a small margin as a point but I'm sure the experience will hold us all in good stead if we get the chance to play for Ireland again." Interestingly, Margaret - wife of vaunted Drumgoon footballer Paul McCabe - ought to have made her shinty/camogie debut a few years ago while at college but it was a false start. "When I was at St. Pat's, we had arranged to go to Scotland to play a challenge game there with another college but it had to be cancelled although we had everything all booked." An experimental game/test which is set to stand the test of time? "I think so. It definitely left a positive impression on all of us from Cavan. Its great to have an international outlet for girls who play camogie. "I remember going to see the men take on Scotland in Croke Park a few years ago and I thought it was a very interesting, fast game. "The difference in the shape of the sticks was one of the things that stood out that time for me - their stick looked like one of those old-style hurls to me. "I think the fact that four of us from Cavan were involved in the game said a lot about the camogie talent that is in the county right now." And what of Drumgoon's prospects in the county camogie competitions? "We'll do our best but consolidating Dernakesh's success last year in winning the Cumann na mBunscoil title would be one of aims this year. "Hopefully the game will take root in Drumgoon and that we can keep it alive and develop it in the coming years." Tweet

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