Ruairidh Anderson is wondering if GAA players can transfer between clubs and counties. They can, he's told, but it rarely happens.
"Well it's the same in shinty," said Anderson, one of the players who will line out for Scotland in this weekend's Hurling Shinty international at Páirc Esler in Newry.
"You play for your club and that's generally who you play for for the entirety of your career. Obviously the likes of boys my age come through primary school, U-14s, U-17s, all the way through playing on the same team with each other so you get to know each other really well. Your team-mates are your best mates.
"At the moment myself and all my team-mates we're all similar ages so it's brilliant on and off the pitch. Even training and after matches, it's just really good to spend that quality time with your best mates, basically."
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Anderson - who previously line out for Scotland against Ireland at U21 level - plays for Kingussie.
"It's a pretty small town to be honest," he said.
"It's just south of Aviemore and about half an hour from Inverness. It's a pretty small town. There's another village three miles away and that's a different club, Newtonmore, so they'd be our enemies!
"Even though we're only three miles apart you either play for Kingussie or Newtonmore and there's no mixing."
12 October 2023; In attendance, from left, Ireland player Peter Duggan, GAA president Larry McCarthy, Scotland player Ruairidh Anderson, Camanachd Association president Steven MacKenzie and Ireland player David Fitzgerald at the Hurling Shinty International 2023 launch at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Anderson, Scotland manager Garry Reid and Camanachd Association president Steven MacKenzie were at Croke Park last week.
"I've been able to come here over a number of years, stretching back to 1996 when we came across to Ballyboden St Enda's and were treated to a Leinster final," said Reid.
"That was my first experience of Croke Park. It puts shivers down your spine every time you walk in here."
MacKenzie said the "athleticism, preparation and professionalism that hurling shows is something that shinty can aspire to".
"We look on with envious eyes at what the GAA have created here [in Croke Park]," he continued.
"It really is fantastic, something for shinty to aspire to. It's a long way away but something we're really keen to encourage in our own sport."
Anderson explained that in terms of popularity, shinty is "not quite on the level of hurling".
"It's popular in the Highlands but unfortunately it's not massive down in the central belt or south of that," he said.
"But we have people in place who are trying to grow the sport as much as they can. Hopefully in years to come it will keep growing."
Scotland will take on an Ireland team made up of players from 14 counties. Ireland manager Damien Coleman and his selectors Kieran Kingston, Sambo McNaughton and Michael Kavanagh were restricted to picking seven players from Liam MacCarthy Cup teams.
2 November 2019; Shane Nolan of Ireland in action against Rory Kennedy of Scotland during the Senior Hurling Shinty International 2019 match between Ireland and Scotland at the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"It's hard, because we don't know what they're like," said Anderson.
"They are going to be good, we know that, that's for certain. And there's talks of more top-tier players playing this year. But it's hard to gauge us against them. Because they're different games, different leagues, et cetera.
"So I think the main thing is just try to do what we can do as opposed to trying to get an edge based on what we know about them. We'll just stick to what we can control, basically."
For Ireland's players, the main difference between this compromised rules sport and hurling is that they can't catch the ball. However, there is one alteration to the rules this year which will allow goalkeepers to do so.
Ground hurling - an antiquated skill in the modern game - will be required. "Sambo did a drill with us last week, all ground hurling," said Ireland vice-captain David Fitzgerald.
"I think lads were saying that they haven't pulled on the ground since U10! It takes some getting used to. Catching the ball, get that out of your head, control everything on the stick and move it."
"Obviously the hurls are pretty small so it's hard for them to get down onto the ground," said Anderson.
"Whereas shinty players can keep the ball on the ground and it's probably easier for us to keep control of the ball.
"But when it's in the air the hurling players are just picking it out like it's nothing whereas it's obviously a bit more hard for us to get that ball under control.
"The main thing is just good shinty, keep the ball on the ground, and hopefully that will give us a wee advantage."
2 November 2019; Ruaridh Anderson of Kingussie Camanachd Club, and Scotland U21, is presented with his Best and Fairest award by Jimmy O'Dwyer, Chairman of the GAA's Hurling Development Committee, speaking at the Hurling Shinty International 2019 Banquet at Castleknock Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
The last hurling shinty international was held in 2019, a game Scotland won by 22 points. Overall, they lead the series 9-7.
"You're playing with players you've normally only played against and you might not get on with them on the pitch, but when you're put in this context you've got to get on and you're all there for the same reason," said Anderson.
"You've got the same goals. It's really special. Obviously, you've got your club and that means loads as well. You put that strip on and you're very honoured and privileged.
"But a national jersey is something that doesn't come around very often. Only 20 people get selected so it's a massive honour."
Ireland Hurling Shinty international squad
Niall Arthur, Iniskeen Grattans - Monaghan; Mickey Joe Egan, St Dominic's - Roscommon; David Fitzgerald, Inagh-Kilnamona – Clare; Peter Duggan, Clooney-Quin - Clare; Andrew Gilsenan-Kavanagh, Barndarrig - Wicklow; Cillian Kiely, Kilcormac-Killoughey – Offaly; Eoghan Cahill, Birr - Offaly; Fionan Mackessy, St Brendan's - Kerry; Luca McCusker, Lisbellaw St. Patrick's - Fermanagh; Neil McManus, Ruairí Óg, Cushendall - Antrim; Chris Nolan, Mount Leinster Rangers – Carlow;
Ryan Mullaney, Castletown – Laois; Stephen Maher, Clough-Ballacolla – Laois; Paddy Purcell, Rathdowney-Errill - Laois;
Enda Rowland, Abbeyleix - Laois; Caolan Taggart, Portaferry - Down; Padraig Walsh, Tullaroan - Kilkenny; Ger Millerick, Father O'Neill's - Cork; Rob Downey, Glen Rovers – Cork; Tom Monaghan, Craughwell - Galway.
