INTERNATIONAL sport, in whatever form, is viewed by many as the ultimate contest. Think Ashes, Calcutta Cup, Ryder Cup; two teams, head-to-head, playing the sport they excel in. Hence such contests are often referred to as ‘tests’.

The Marine Harvest Shinty/Hurling International in Inverness this afternoon, when Scotland host Ireland, may not carry test status. It should perhaps be labelled just that because of the contrived and convoluted rules at work.

The two sports at play are not dissimilar; sticks, a ball, goals at either end and an abundance of skill and bravery. However, to make this hybrid sport work composite rules are adopted, which according to Scotland coach Ronald Ross should assist the hosts.

“Catching and handling the ball is a big part of hurling, but it isn’t allowed in this game. So we try and keep the ball on the deck, because anything in the air, given the stick work of the Irish boys, gives them an advantage.

“The scoring also changes. Where we only score goals, putting the ball over the bar is all part of hurling. So we count it as three points for a goal, two for scoring off the ground and a point for over the bar – which saves the blushes on occasions for some of our strikers,” laughs Ross, so prolific in front of goal he earned the nickname the Ronaldo of the Glens.

As coach of the Scotland team, Ross now enters his third contest against the Irish.

“It was only supposed to be for two years, but I’m in to my third now. I don’t know if there will be another after this – that might depend on the result or whether I’d want to do it for another year.

“It is only one international game a season. But there is a pile of work involved in getting the team together and organised. It is, though, something we all look forward to. It is our only international game so both sides give it their all and really go for it.”

He does, of course, mean as an athletic challenge. “We want to win, but it is a friendly. It’s not like the Gaelic football – Aussie Rules games they’ve had,” said Ross.

And a "friendly" it is. The GAA select will only contain four or five of their very top-line players in their 14-man side. “If they came with a full complement, it would be a no-contest. And no one would want or watch that,” Ross concluded.

Bucht Park also stages a women’s game between Scotland and Dublin County Camogie Select and a men’s Under-21 match from 10.30am onward.