Composite rules shinty-hurling , sometimes known simply as shinty-hurling) is a hybrid sport

Hybrid sports

A hybrid sport is one which combines two or more sports in order to create a new sport, or to allow meaningful competition between players of those sports....

 which was developed to facilitate international matches between shinty players

Shinty

Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...

 and hurling players

Hurling

Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...

.

Shinty-hurling is one of few team sport

Team sport

A team sport includes any sport which involves players working together towards a shared objective. A team sport is an activity in which a group of individuals, on the same team, work together to accomplish an ultimate goal which is usually to win. This can be done in a number of ways such as...

s in the world without any dedicated clubs or leagues. It is currently played by both men's and women's teams only in tournaments or once-off internationals. The women's form of the game is called shinty/camogie.

Rules

The rules of the composite sport are designed to allow for neither side to gain an advantage, eliminating or imposing certain restrictions. The goals are those used in hurling, with 3 points for a goal (in the net under the crossbar) and 1 point for a shot over the crossbar. A stationary ball taken straight from the ground and shot over the crossbar scores 2 points.

Players may not catch the ball unless they are the goalkeeper (or a defender on the line for a penalty) and this must be released within three steps. Players may not kick the ball, but can drag the ball with their foot.

Although there is a statutory size for the ball to be used in the games, there is often a custom of using a sliotar

Sliotar

A sliotar or sliothar is a hard solid sphere slightly larger than a tennis ball, consisting of a cork core covered by two pieces of leather stitched together. Sometimes called a "puck" or "hurling ball", it resembles an American baseball with more pronounced stitching...

 in one half and a shinty ball in the other.

Each half lasts 35 minutes.

History

The first ever games played were challenge matches between London Scottish and London GAA

London GAA

The London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or London GAA is one of the county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in London...

 in 1896 and Glasgow Cowal and Dublin Celtic in 1897 and 1898, with the first game played at Celtic Park

Celtic Park

Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...

. However, there was then a hiatus until Scottish representative teams and Irish sides took place in the 1920s. Following intermittent international games between Scotland and an all-Ireland team before the Second World War, controversy arose as the British Government put pressure upon the Camanachd Association

Camanachd Association

The Camanachd Association is the World governing body of the Scottish sport of shinty. The body is based in Inverness, Highland, and is in charge of the rules of the game...

 to cease from cooperating with the Gaelic Athletic Association

Gaelic Athletic Association

The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...

, disapproving of their perceived anti-British viewpoint

However, universities in both countries kept the link going after the war and this led to a resumption of international fixtures between the two codes in the 1970s.

After a long run of Irish successes, Scotland won four fixtures in a row from 2005 until Ireland reclaimed the title in 2009. Scotland's successes have been marred by a lack of interest from an Irish perspective. Unlike the international rules football

International rules football

International rules football is a team sport consisting of a hybrid of football codes, which was developed to facilitate international representative matches between Australian rules football players and Gaelic football players....

 tests between Australia and Ireland, few players from the top flight counties participate in the event, with often players from what would be deemed as weaker counties forming the Irish team.

2007 also saw the use of compromise rules as a way of developing the Gaelic

Goidelic languages

The Goidelic languages or Gaelic languages are one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland through the Isle of Man to the north of Scotland...

 languages in Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 and Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 by the Columba Initiative

Columba Initiative

The Columba Project or Iomairt Cholm Cille, formerly known as the Columba Initiative is a program for Gaelic speakers in Scotland and Ireland to meet each other more often, and in so doing to learn more of the language, heritage and lifestyles of one another...

. A team called Alba, made up of Scottish Gaelic speakers, played Micheál Breathnach GAA, from Inverin

Inverin

Indreabhán is a Gaeltacht village between Spiddal and Casla in County Galway, Ireland. Inverin is more strongly Irish-speaking than Spiddal, partly due to fewer commuters from Galway living there. There are a number of Irish-language summer colleges in the area, most notably Coláiste Lurgan and...

, Galway

Galway

Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...

. The project was repeated in 2008. The Gaelic speakers international was played for a 3rd time in 2010 in Portree in the Isle of Skye on 13 February 2010.

There are also Scottish/Irish women's and under-21s sides which have competed against one another.

In 2009, the first full shinty/hurling match in the United States took place between Skye Camanachd

Skye Camanachd

Skye Camanachd is a shinty team from the Isle of Skye, Highland, Scotland. It plays in North Division One and has a reserve team in North Division Two. The club is based at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.-Early history:...

 and the San Francisco Rovers.

In 2010, the fixture was played at Croke Park

Croke Park

Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...

 before the International Rules game and then a return leg was played at the Bught Park

Bught Park

Bught Park is the largest park in the city of Inverness, Scotland, and is situated on the western bank of the River Ness. It is home to the Inverness Highland Games and a small scale outdoor music festival. It is located next to the city's sports centre, swimming pool and BMX track...

 two weeks later.

Latest Senior Results

Tournament	Date	Host nation	Result	Venue	Attendance
2003	25 October	Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...	Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  5–9   Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  1–13	Inverness Inverness Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...	3,000
2004	16 October	Ireland Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...	Draw:   Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  3–10   Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  4–7	Ratoath Ratoath Ratoath is a town in the barony of the same name, County Meath in Ireland. The town is centered on the point where the R125 and R155 regional roads meet. In the 1996 census, the population was recorded as 1,061. In the 2006 census, it was 7,249... , County Meath County Meath County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
2005	8 October 2005	Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...	Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  4–8   Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  2–11	Bught Park Bught Park Bught Park is the largest park in the city of Inverness, Scotland, and is situated on the western bank of the River Ness. It is home to the Inverness Highland Games and a small scale outdoor music festival. It is located next to the city's sports centre, swimming pool and BMX track... , Inverness Inverness Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
2006	9 November 2006	Ireland Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...	Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  2–13   Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  2–5	Croke Park Croke Park Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation... , Dublin
2007	13 October	Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...	Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  4–10   Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  0–11	An Aird An Aird An Aird is both an area of Fort William, Scotland, and also the largest dedicated shinty park in the town and is situated on the east bank of Loch Linnhe, near the centre of the town. It is located next to the Nevis Centre. An Aird regularly hosts both the Camanachd Cup Final and the Composite... , Fort William Fort William, Scotland Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
2008	18 October	Ireland Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...	Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  1–10   Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  1–9	Nowlan Park Nowlan Park Nowlan Park is the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Kilkenny, Ireland, home to the Kilkenny hurling team. It has two covered stands and two terraces, behind each goalpost. The current capacity of the stadium is approximately 24,000 with a seating capacity of 17,000. Plans have... , Kilkenny Kilkenny Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...	1,000
2009	31 October	Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...	Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  2–8   Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  1–8	Bught Park Bught Park Bught Park is the largest park in the city of Inverness, Scotland, and is situated on the western bank of the River Ness. It is home to the Inverness Highland Games and a small scale outdoor music festival. It is located next to the city's sports centre, swimming pool and BMX track... , Inverness Inverness Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...	1,500
2010	30 October	Ireland Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...	Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  2-15   Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  2-16	Croke Park Croke Park Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation... , Dublin (first leg)
	13 November	Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...	Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  5-6   Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  3-7 Ireland win 7-21 to 5-23 on aggregate	Bught Park Bught Park Bught Park is the largest park in the city of Inverness, Scotland, and is situated on the western bank of the River Ness. It is home to the Inverness Highland Games and a small scale outdoor music festival. It is located next to the city's sports centre, swimming pool and BMX track... , Inverness Inverness Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...   (second leg)
2011	22 October	Ireland Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...	Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  1-16   Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  2-8	Geraldine Park Geraldine Park Geraldine Park is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Athy, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main ground of Athy GAA's Gaelic football and hurling teams and has also hosted inter-county fixtures.... , Athy Athy The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
	29 October	Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...	Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....  1-11   Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...  2-9	Bught Park Bught Park Bught Park is the largest park in the city of Inverness, Scotland, and is situated on the western bank of the River Ness. It is home to the Inverness Highland Games and a small scale outdoor music festival. It is located next to the city's sports centre, swimming pool and BMX track... , Inverness Inverness Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...

Camogie Shinty International

• 2003 Oct 25 Ireland 5–9 Scotland 1–13 Inverness
• 2004 Oct 16 Ireland 3–10 Scotland 4–7 Ratoath
• 2005 Oct 8 Scotland 4–8 Ireland 2–11 Bught Park, Inverness
• 2006 Nov 9 Scotland 2–13 Ireland 2–5 Croke Park,
• 2007 Oct 13 Scotland 4–10 Ireland 0–11 An Aird, Fort William
• 2008 Oct 18 Scotland 1–10 Ireland 1–9 Nowlan Park,
• 2009 Oct 31 Ireland 2-2 Scotland 0-0 Bught Park, Inverness
• 2010 Oct 30 Ireland 6-9 Scotland 2-2 Ratoath

Records

Country	Series won	Matches won	Total scores
Scotland Scotland national shinty team The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....	4	4	22-91 (157)
Ireland Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team The Ireland national compromise rules shinty-hurling team is the representative team for Ireland in Composite rules shinty-hurling consisting of hurling players...	3	4	22-84 (150)

External links

• Scotsman report on 2007 fixture
• Composite rules
• BBC report previewing 2009 fixture