Scotland’s selectors have gambled on including Lochaber attacker Ben Delaney in their under-21 team for the shinty-hurling international against Ireland in Inverness on November 2 – despite the fact that he has not played in two months.
Delaney was in an accident in which a forklift pierced a leg.
But with 12 new caps named, head coach Ronald Ross has included the rela- tively experienced Spean Bridge player and is keeping his fingers crossed Delaney will be ready.
Ross said: “It’s a bit of a gamble because Ben’s been out for some time after a forklift pierced his leg and he looked as though he would be out until next March.
“But he has healed remarkably quickly and he trained with the squad last weekend.
“Our physios will work with Ben during the next couple of weeks and I hope he can make a key contribution against the Irish.”
Ross yesterday named the youngest Scotland squad in years, including 17-year-old Oliver Macrae, who has shone this season with Kinlochshiel.
Oban’s teams will supply five of the 19 players with Oban Camanachd goalkeeper Robert Dunnings set for his first cap as no other goalkeeper has been named.
Oban Celtic duo Daniel Madej and Gary McKerracher are also debutants.
Newtonmore supply three new caps in Andrew MacDonald, Michael Russell and Calum Stewart, while Lovat trio Lewis Tawse, Graeme Macmillan and Michael Mackenzie are also new faces.
The other new caps are Beauly attacker Jack MacDonald and Finlay Mac- Millan, of Glasgow Mid Argyll.
Ross added: “We’ve lost the core of last year’s side who have moved up to the senior side or are over-age.
“Injury has also robbed us of Rory Kennedy, Chris Sellar, Ryan Borthwick, Sandy MacVicar and Scott Macleod, while the likes of Ewen Brady, Marc Mac-lachlan and Thomas Borthwick did not commit to the squad sessions.
“So our side is perhaps lacking in physicality because they’re so much younger, but they’re extremely mobile and that will cause problems for Ireland.
“Most teams having stopped training is also a difficulty but Fraser Inglis is taking the Oban players selected for special sessions, while fitness coach Gemma Docker and myself will do the same with the Inverness area and Lochaber contingents over the next couple of weeks.”
Lovat’s Greg Matheson, a prolific Premiership goal-scorer, is the new captain and Ross feels the upside of this selection is that it includes the nucleus of the Scotland under-21 team for the next three years.
For the first time, there are no Fort William or Kingussie players.