GAELIC Games are a very unique part of this island and something that is without a doubt engrained within the sporting culture.
But when it comes to the endgame for most players, however, the highlight of their career is usually a call-up to a county panel or winning a club championship or in some cases, both.
Unlike soccer, rugby, or even combat sports representing your country is not an opportunity that appears all too often in the GAA, but since the revival of the International series with Scotland, Ireland's best hurlers have the chance to live that dream.
Last weekend saw the traditional Ireland versus Scotland International Hurling/Shinty series play out with Scotland taking the honours back to the Highlands for the first time since 2019 after an enthralling game at Páirc Úi Chaoimh on Saturday evening.
The Ireland team which competed had two Rossa stars involved in the ranks – Gerard Walsh and Luca McCusker.
Luca caught up with Belfast Media after the battle with Scotland, explaining how the opportunity came about for the Fermanagh county all-star, and what it meant to him to participate in the game of this stature.
"Yeah I had gotten a text from Kieran Farmer, he is a Fermanagh man who is working within the GAA, he just asked to see if I had any interest in heading to the trials to give the shinty another go. I didn't have to think too long about it and gave my response pretty sharp.
"We had trial sessions in Abbotstown in Dublin and then a final training with the Panel Two before the final team was named."
The team pulls the best stick-work from across the country together to compete. The Hurling and Shinty rules, despite their similarities, remove the use of the hand and the game leans heavy towards the Shinty aspect, something Luca thoroughly enjoyed.
"The training is always the fun part – you are in a less intense environment with everyone trying to learn a new game essentially, it's great craic," said Luca.
"In regards to the players that are also involved in those sessions and even the management and backroom team that are involved, all I can say it is an honour to be a part of something like this.
"I did it a few years ago, and from that first time it really opened my eyes to levels of preparation and attitude towards performance.
"It's an experience I always take a lot home, from playing with the likes of Gerard (Walsh) and other top players is always a pleasure. He is the archetypal player for Shinty with attitude and skill. I think this would be the case for any sport he tries, and he fitted like a glove competing with the rest of the top lads."
The result itself was a sore one to take for Ireland. Scotland managed to end a seven year drought to clinch the series with the late score from Zander Michie sealed the win for the men from Alba by just a single score.
"The result was pretty disappointing as most one point defeats are," said the Rossa star.
"The game usually lends a quicker start to the Scots as they have less of their game taken away, whereas we lose our main control skill of catching. It always takes a few minutes to adjust to.
"In hurling when the ball is in your hand you have time to look up and play it from there, in the shinty game you are glued to the ball trying to control it on the stick which is hard with contests from the Scots.
"Their communication and anticipation for passing and where the ball lands was immense and something we don't see in our game anymore with everything having to be controlled and to the hand."
Luca believes that despite the result, the ability to showcase some of the skills that are forgotten in the modern hurling game is really a sight to behold and a joy to be a part of with top class hurling talents across the country showing their talents.
"The days of driving the ball over your shoulder from 90 yards without looking are somewhat gone, but not in this game," claimed the Rossa forward.
"Some of the top Irish players are still just as potent. Some of them are outstanding athletes with serious skill even without the use of the hand.
"The Ireland team acclimatised well and really got stuck in for the second half leading on a few occasions.
"I got my first minutes since 2024 where I took a bad slap and an injury the last time I played in Ennis, so on a personal level it was nice to get back into the Ireland jersey.
"The coach, Eamon O'Shea, spoke mainly about representing the country, the game, your identity and your country. I feel the lads gave it a good go and ran Scotland right to the end, it was truly an honour to pull on that green jersey."
