How much better can it get than captaining your country? Being 'capped' is one thing but being afforded the all-inspiring armband must surely be the pinnacle of a player's career. Monaghan's very own Eleanor McQuaid says she was knocked for six when she was picked to fill the captain's role for last autumn's annual shinty international test with Scotland. However the highly-regarded McQuaid baulks at the suggestion that it's all downhill for her now although she acknowledges that she was blown away to be singled out. "Being made captain was unbelievable, a great honour and really something to be proud about," the Clontibret stalwart recalls, some three months after Ireland's 4-6 setback. "I was nervous leading the girls out but they gave me great support and everyone played their hearts out so it wasn't as if I had anything to do except play my part," Eleanor explains. "We played well as a team and had as much of the possession as them but it was just unfortunate that we didn't get something out of the match at the end of the day." Eleanor was joined by a sprinkling of Monaghan's top camogie talent in Scotland for the weekend of October 12th-14th when the Scots played host to the 20-strong Ireland squad. Captain McQuaid had club and county colleagues Marie Greenan and Helen Hughes for company as well as Mairead McCarron from the Truagh club. Interestingly, the Oriel County's quartet of 'caps' surpassed the number from any other county represented on the squad which travelled to Fort William in the highlands of Scotland. The rest of the Irish squad was made up of three players from Carlow, three from Louth and Donegal, two from Westmeath and one from the camogie fraternity in mainland Europe. The majestic Ben Nevis mountain provided a scenic background to the shinty set-to which co-incided with the meeting of Ireland's Under 21 and senior hurlers with their Celtic hosts. The Shinty/Hurling international matches were inaugurated in 1992 between the two nations and alternates between Ireland and Scotland each year. Although not receiving the billing and reportage afforded the clashes between the two countries in other codes, the series has helped greatly in fostering lanquage and cultural links. The rules of the game are slightly different from the hurling/shinty competition in that a team consists of 14 players with the usual number of substitutes being allowed to be used. However the ball may not be taken in the hand, except by the goalkeeper but it can be lifted on the stick (or the caman for the Irish players) before being struck. The ball may be blocked by the foot but it cannot be kicked. A goal scored is equivalent to three points while one point is awarded when the ball goes over the crossbar. Meanwhile a free taken in front of goal, which is struck off the ground, earns a team two points if it successfully finds the target. So what's 18 year old Eleanor's 'take' on the hybrid game and how did she find the experience of playing against foreign opposition? "It's a very skilful and competitive game and really completely different to camogie in a lot of ways," the Carlow Information Technology student explains. "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. "It was a very enjoyable experience all the same but maybe the fact that they can play with the stick they're used to gives 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." Eleanor is a veteran of the Irish squad who played in the corresponding fixture in 2006 when the green and whites were soundly beaten by what was an impressive Scottish outfit. "They beat us well in 2006 when we were never really in the game. They were so much better than us on the day that we just had to knuckle down and improve. "Luckily we were a lot better this year and you could see an improvement in every part of the team. The inclusion of the Carlow girls was a big plus for the team this year too. "I think everyone involved in '06 learned from that experience and approached this year's test in a more positive, confident frame of mind and that showed on the pitch in Fort William. "Most of all, there was a much better level of teamwork this year and the players knew each other better on a personal basis as well as on the field which helped a lot. "We had a better idea of each other's strengths and style of play having played for two years in a row together and there was definitely a better spirit and buzz about the panel." It seems that Ireland's preparations for this year's test was more professional, more intensive too with the pre-international training helping greatly to hone Ireland's shinty skills. A brace of training sessions at the Na Fianna grounds in Dublin in the weeks leading up to the Fort William clash and a couple of training sessions in Scotland proved very important. "Even though we lost by two goals, I honestly felt we were the better team on the day," says Eleanor of the 4-6 defeat to Scotland last October. "They were fortunate with their first goal and they really set them up because we took a long time to settle and our first quarter performance in particular was poor." Was Ireland's teak-tough corner back surprised that, for someone so young, she was chosen to lead the Irish into battle? "Definitely, it was a huge shock and I don't know how they picked out me to be the captain," the physiology and health science student and Clontibret footballer explains. "The 2006 game was my debut with Ireland, my first experience of playing shinty for the country so it wasn't as if the team-management plumped for someone with experience. "Maybe it was because I had captained my county but I still couldn't believe it when they told me I was captain. It was a huge honour for me and is certainly the highlight for me so far." The game itself was a frantic, end-to-end and absorbing contest which saw the pendulum swing this way and that before sticking rigidly in the homesters' corner at the long whistle. Predictably, Eleanor was to the fore from the early moments, showing great bravery and leadership as she effected a great block from a ball blasted in by the Scot's Jane Nichol. Scotland were on top early on and it took some really fine saves from Westmeath's Sandra Greville to keep Nichol and Co. at bay as both sides settled down. It was all of fifteen minutes before Scotland's Katie Drain converted a a goal to put Scotland three points in front but then Marie Greenan (Clontibret) ran in on goal. To the consternation of the Irish camp, Marie's 'goal' was ruled out as the umpire deemed the ball had been struck with her foot. However, undeterred Ireland kept up the pressure and were rewarded with a goal by Mary Coady from the St. Mullins club in county Carlow. Scotland quickly regained the initiative though and Fennella McRae did very well to ram home another goal to leave Ireland trailing by 3-6 at the interval. "There was a great camaraderie among us all and even though we were outplayed a good bit in the first half, there was a never-say-die spirit in the team throughout the game. "I knew at half-time that there was more to come from us and we felt that if we could get off to a good start in the second half we would have them on the run," Eleanor adds. And, as things panned out, Ireland enjoyed a clear advantage in the possession stakes as the third quarter gathered pace with Valerie Crean pointing a free early on. Sadly Mairead McCarron was to be out of luck with some scoring chances late on and despite sticking to their task, time just ran out for the brave Irish girls. "It was a good effort and all the players were ten times better than in 2006. We were unlucky to have our 'goal' disallowed and I thought a draw might have been the fairest result. "The game wasn't as fast as camogie and it's difficult to say whether it's any rougher because it depends on the opposition. "I still think it has a future though and it would be great to be part of Ireland teams in the future because it's a great honour and a great experience. "Playing a higher standard of camogie during the year with Monaghan and winning the All-Ireland league helped us all in terms of confidence and it'll be great to get back playing in the county championship next year." And the prospects of a four-in-a-row for the O'Neill lassies? "It was great to make it three-in-a-row this year but I think Truagh and Inniskeen will have a big say in what happens next year. "We beat Inniskeen in this year's final but it was very close and I definitely think they'll be very determined to get one back on us next year but we'll do our best." As always! Tweet

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