Both sides were well matched in the opening half of this game, but struggled for scores in the closing 40 minutes, with Ireland only managing three second half points, including scores from Price and Nolan - both of which came in the closing three minutes.

Ireland manager Jeff Lynskey strengthened his side from the 10-point loss to Scotland a month ago with the inclusion of Hurler of the Year TJ Reid, but the home side were under tremendous pressure throughout.

Laois’s Zane Keenan opened Ireland’s scoring with a point inside 90 seconds of the throw-in, but Ireland were forced to battle hard, falling four point in arrears after seven minutes.

Steven MacDonald slotted over a two-pointers, before a seventh minutes Fraser Heath goal.

The Glenurqhart clubman was well placed to capitalise on an under pressure Ireland keeper Eoin Reilly, after MacDonald had delivered a long-range free.

1-2 to 0-1 ahead Scotland looked good, and Ireland had to work hard to get back into contention.

Keenan and Reid both fired wide, before points from Keenan and Westmeath’s Eoin Price cut the gap to two points after 12 minutes.

Scotland continued to stay on top, with Kevin Bartlett firing a two-pointer, but Ireland were pressing hard at the Scots defence.

Keenan was particularly keen on breaching the Scotland goal mouth, but keeper Stuart MacKintosh was impressive.

Ireland continued to edge back, and with a superb score from Antrim’s Neal McAuley and another Keenan effort, the gap was cut to the minimum by the 17th minute.

Scores were at a premium over the next 10 minutes, with a 21st minute Keenan pointed free the lone score during this spell, levelling the tie at 0-7 to 1-4.

Liam MacDonald had a 23rd minute goal shot blocked by Reilly, while at the opposite end there was better luck for Tipperary’s Patrick ‘Bonnar’ Maher, who slotted home.

Maher’s craft and skill handed Ireland a 1-7 to 1-4 lead after 28 minutes, but this lead was short-lived as three minutes later Scotland equalised.

A MacDonald 65 metre free rebounded to Bartlett, with the Lovat player smashing the ball to the net, past a crowded Ireland defence.

A further two-pointer from Bartlett pushed the visitors ahead after 35 minutes, but Ireland took the lead at the interval.

Keenan sent in a long range shot from close to the Cusack Stand sideline from midfield, which finished in the back of the net after 37 minutes, and handed Ireland a slender 2-7 to 2-6 interval lead.

The second half got off to a whimper as both sides struggled for scores.

Price and Shane Nolan were both guilty of early wides for the hosts, as were Bartlett and MacDonald for Scotland.

Inside 20 seconds after being introduced as a substitute Westmeath’s Derek McNicholas proved his worth with a fine point on the edge of the semi-circle handing Ireland a 2-8 to 2-6 lead in the 50th minute.

Two minutes later, a third two-pointer from Bartlett brought the sides level for the third time.

Both sides were defending well at this stage, but for large periods of the second half their respective forward lines let them down upfront.

Ireland dug deep in the closing stages, with great skill shown by Nolan and Price to take vital points.

2-10 to 2-8 ahead with 90 seconds remaining, Ireland defended strongly late on to hold out for a two-point victory.

Scorers for Ireland: Z Keenan 1-5; P Maher 1-0; E Price 0-2; N McAuley 0-1; D McNicholas 0-1; S Nolan 0-1.

Scorers for Scotland: K Bartlett 1-6; F Heath 1-0; S MacDonald 0-2.

IRELAND: Eoin Reilly; Bryan Murphy, James Toher; Mickey Burke, Matthew Whelan, Damien Healy; Derek McNicholas, David McInerney, Neal McAuley; Zane Keenan, Patrick Maher, Eoin Price; TJ Reid, Shane Nolan. Rolling Subs: Bernard Deay, Paul Divilly, Pat Kelly, Niall Ó Muineachain, Paddy McKenna.

SCOTLAND: Stuart MacKintosh; Finlay MacRae, Callum Millar; Steven MacDonald, Rory Kennedy, Lee Bain; Daniel Cameron, John Barr, Conor Cormack; Roddy MacDonald; Kevin Bartlett, Glen MacKintosh, Liam MacDonald; Fraser Heath. Rolling Subs: Grant Irvine, Zander Ferguson, Neale Reid, Shaun Nicolson, Paul MacArthur.

REFEREE: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).