IRELAND CAPTAIN MICHAEL Murphy is set for a club versus country dilemma as the Donegal county final is pencilled in for Sunday October 20th, the day after Ireland face Australia in the first International Rules test.
Murphy helped his club Glenswilly to a 1-14 to 0-16 success over Ardara in Saturday’s Donegal county senior football semi-final.
They now face Killybegs, semi-final victors over Malin yesterday, in a decider that has been confirmed by Donegal county board chiefs for October 20th.
Yet Ireland are set to face Australia in the International Rules first test in Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday October 19th.
The scheduling presents a dilemma for Murphy and even if the Donegal county final is pushed back a week, it would then clash with the second International Rules test in Croke Park on October 26th.
To further complicate matters, Donegal’s club champions are due to play Antrim side St Gall’s in the quarter-final of the Ulster senior club football championship on Sunday November 3rd.
Management
Speaking to TheScore.ie on the issue last week, Ireland manager Paul Earley expressed his hope that county boards would be flexible with fixtures.
“That’s an issue as it is with a lot of players. Some county boards have put up their hands and said they would accommodate.
“It’s difficult because club competitions are being pushed back further and further in the year. We want to make sure we don’t overload them and that they are fresh as well and not over trained. It is challenging.”
