Edenderry GAA is ready to play host to two historic International games this Saturday, as Shinty-Hurling/Camogie is set to take place at the Offaly venue for the first time, with the Scottish Universities Shinty teams facing local opposition.

'The Battle of the Celts' Shinty-Hurling festival is set to become a bi-Annual event, and is set to kick off at midday on Saturday with a Womens Shinty-Camogie fixture between Scotland and an Offaly select, followed by the Mens fixture at 1.45pm.

The Irish mens team can call upon Westmeath Senior players Eoin Price, Derek Mc Nicholas, Niall O'Brien and Joey Boyle, all of whom have International Shinty/Hurling experience.

Clonkill clubman Price, is a former Irish International Senior winning captain, and picked up his fourth Shinty-Hurling medal this year, to go with his Christy Ring and county championship successes, with McNicholas also picking up Shinty-Hurling medals in the past.

Fellow Lake County men Niall O'Brien and Joey Boyle featured for the Ireland Under 21's this year, with Boyle picking up a Senior Championship with his club Raharney, before losing out in last Sunday's Leinster semi-final to Kilcormac-Killoughey.

The quartet will be joined in the squad by players from their own clubs along with players from Edenderry and Broadford. Former Meath Senior hurling manager and Edenderry clubman Cillian Farrell is also expected to make an appearance.

Scotland have an unblemished record in this fixture over the past decade, and following victory over a combined Ulster Universities select last January in Belfast, they travel with a strong squad.

Edinburgh Napier University student and Kinlochshiel clubman Duncan MacRae will captain the side, with Strathclyde's Finlay MacMillan as Vice-captain.

Both have represented Scotland at Under 21 level, and featured in this years historic first win by the side on Irish soil.

The Scotland squad possesses a wealth of experience, with this year's Scotland Under 17 captain Arran MacPhee from Fort William set to play in his third International in 2014, having also featured for the Under 21's in Newry.

The squad also includes Down hurler Conal Mulholland, from the Bredagh club in Belfast, who is a student at Glasgow University where he has played Shinty in recent years, and will feature on the Scottish Universities Shinty squad for the third time.

The Offaly Camogie team will be hoping to use their experience to good affect, when they face the Scottish Universities Womens Shinty team at 12 noon.

The Midlanders will include some players who have won All-Ireland Intermediate and Junior medals, and currently play in the top-tier Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Championship.

Scotland's Universities Womens team may have lost to Ulster Universities in testing weather conditions last January, but many of the players involved this weekend, featured in the recent victory for the Scotland Womens team over All-Ireland Junior Champions Down in Newry.

Katie Booth, Rachel McCafferty, Rhona McIntyre and Kathleen 'Missy' Cameron were all involved, as were the management team of Drain and Savage.

The games are part of the first ever 'Battle of the Celts' Shinty-Hurling Festival, with Glasgow Mid-Argyll set to travel to play some games in Edenderry early in the New Year.

On Saturday night Edenderry GAA is set to host Kerry Legend Tomás Ó Sé as their Special Guest along with Master of Ceremonies Michael Duignan for the Annual Night of the Reds.

FIXTURE DETAILS:

Saturday 22nd November

Camogie-Shinty International

Offaly Select v Scotland, 12noon Edenderry GAA

Hurling-Shinty International

Edenderry Select v Scotland, 1.45pm, Edenderry GAA

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