Five Cornish players competed in an international shinty-hurling match against European champions Paris.

The English Shinty Association's (ESA) national squad, known as the 'Sassenachs,' included Cornwall’s own Harry Soar, Luke Wilkinson, Winston Tjia, Alex Amos, and Matt Mossop, who is also the England captain.

The Paris team, having focused entirely on the compromise rules game since September, proved to be a formidable force.

Their captain, Naoise Greene, led the team with a depth of Irish experience and impressive fitness.

The Sassenachs, however, fielded an average squad age of over 31, with players dispersed globally from New Zealand to China.

(Image: Tracy Wilkinson) Despite rigorous fitness preparations, the English team, which included athletes from various parts of the UK, Romania, and China, was unable to match the slick performance of the European champions.

The match swiftly heated up with a full-blooded clatter to the face of England captain Mossop within the first 30 seconds.

Man of the Match, Naoise Greene, was outstanding for the visitors, consistently scoring from 90 metres, leaving ESA struggling to keep up.

As the relentless Parisian pressure wore on, the ESA's goal came under severe threat, with the European champions showcasing their depth of preparation.

(Image: Tracy Wilkinson) The second half saw only a single point from Mossop as consolation for ESA, with the contest concluding at ESA 1,1 Paris 7,14.

Despite the defeat, the occasion was marked with joy and camaraderie.

Dynamite Valley Brewing Co. generously supplied a selection of their beers for the presentation of the Wink Cup, adding a festive spirit to the event.

The French team, Paris Gaels GAA, was warmly thanked by the ESA for contributing to a memorable encounter, and the English team expressed eagerness to head to Paris in 2025.

Cornwall captain Alex Amos, along with Mossop and Tjia, proudly displayed their international trophies.

Tjia was praised for his impressive debut for the Sassenachs and for capturing the essence of the match on film.

The event was made possible thanks to the hospitality of Tir Chonaill's GAA and the 9th Greenford Scouts, as well as the support of sponsors including Abbott Risk Consulting, Mead Camans, Cornish Hedge, Dynamite Valley Brewery, and Perranarworthal Fruit and Vegetables.

The match was not only a spectacle of sport but also a celebration of the friendships forged through international competition.