Hat-trick of Irish victories

Ireland ... (2-0-13) 19 Scotland ... (4-1-01) 15 Ireland secured an impressive three-in-a row by claiming the shinty-hurling series at Croke Park yesterday.

The main compromise between the two sports is that the Irish players cannot handle the ball. As a result, free-taking was always going to be crucial.

The visitors struggled from the dead-ball in front of the goals - even though a converted free was worth double for them as they don't lift and strike.

The Irish, however, had Mark O'Leary and Mark Keane on free-taking duty and they claimed 14 of Ireland's scores between them.

After five years of Scottish domination, Ireland are now firmly in the driving seat after claiming the last three Tests.

Still, Ireland did not have it all their own way, especially early on when the visitors put six points on the board in as many minutes.

Fergal Hartley opened the scoring with a first-minute point.But Scotland hit back with a couple of goals from Russell Mackinlay.

Tipperary's O'Leary, however, kicked into gear and Ireland were back on level terms with a goal in the 23rd minute.

More points from O'Leary and Brendan Murphy saw Ireland into a 10-8 lead before Keane hit the hammer-blow on the stroke of half-time with a goal.

That left Ireland leading 13-8 at the break and they stretched the margin immediately after the restart. Alan Kerins, Derek Lyng and Keane put Ireland into a 16-9 lead following Victor Smith's 48th-minute point.

Smith hit Scotland's third goal after 50 minutes. And he doubled his goals count four minutes from time when he lashed high into Brendan Cummins' net from close range.

But Limerick sharpshooter Keane had the last laugh with three unanswered frees that sealed a deserved four-point win.

IRELAND: B Cummins; M Kavanagh, D O'Sullivan; D O'Connor, M Kerins, F Hartley (0-0-1); D Lyng (0-0-1), C Kelly; R McCarthy, J Carroll (0-0-1), A Kerins (0-0-1); M O'Leary (1-0-4), B Murphy (0-0-1), A Moloney. Substitutes: M Keane (1-0-4) for O'Leary (28 mins); O'Leary for Murphy (half-time); T Spain for A Kerins (50); N Rigney for Hartley (55); JP O'Meara for McCarthy (64).

SCOTLAND: G Macpherson; J Macleod, A Macleod; S Robertson, D Macneil, N Campbell; K Ross, D Robertson; G Ennis, S Cameron, F Inglis; W Macdonald (0-1-0); V Smith (2-0-1), R Mackinlay (2-0-0). Substitutes: G Fisher for Macdonald (50 mins); F Ross for Mackinley (55); L Fraser for Ennis (62); M Cooper for Inglis (67).

Referee: A MacSuibhne (Dublin).