DUBLIN ALL-IRELAND winners Stephen Cluxton, Bernard Brogan, Michael Darragh Macauley and Cian O’Sullivan, along with Kerry’s Colm Cooper will all be unavailable for the Ireland squad for this year’s International Rules series.
Irish manager Paul Earley has confirmed that he will be without those leading lights for the two-test series against Australia in Kingspan Breffni Park on October 19th and Croke Park on October 26th.
“Stephen has ruled himself out. This year he just isn’t able to make the commitment. Bernard spoke to me a few weeks ago as well and he’s been carrying the knocks during the season. In his case, he needs a month off.
Cian O’Sullivan was a guy who was very keen but he’s got an injury at the moment. Michael Darragh MacAuley as well.”
Kerry attacker Cooper has previously expressed his disinterest in the hybrid series and has not featured for Ireland since 2005.
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“To be fair to him (Cooper) we had a couple of conversations and he thought long and hard about it,” said Earley. “He’s decided his club is very important and they have ambitions to go a long way.
“I think he looked at the schedule of their games and they coincided with a couple of the Tests as well so on that basis he wasn’t able to make the commitment.”
Irish manager Paul Earley
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Earley confirmed that All-Ireland champions Dublin have representation in the current training panel in Ciaran Kilkenny, James McCarthy, Jack McCaffrey and Paul Flynn. While beaten All-Ireland finalists Mayo have involvement in Aidan O’Shea, Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle and Kevin McLoughlin.
Carlton’s Zach Tuohy from Laois is the only Australian-based player set to be involved in the Irish squad.
“Zach is coming home at the weekend,” revealed Earley. “He’ll be joining us but he’s the only one. There’s a lot of Australian based players unavailable.
“Tommy Walsh has been injured, Marty Clarke is out of action and Pearse Hanley is not available this year.”
Panel Selection
Earley admitted it is difficult to prepare given the club commitments currently facing Irish players.
“We’ll have the panel finalised by early next week. We’ve had a training squad in place for the last five weekends and we played a practice match again Wednesday night in Croke Park.
“We probably have up to 40 players and we’ll narrow that down closer to 30 next week. Given that there’s around 20 players still involved in club competition, it’s a bit difficult to pick 23 at this stage.
“We’ll have a practice match here in Cavan next weekend and we’ll have all the players involved in that. Then after that we’ll pick the final 23 for the two tests.”
It shouldn’t even be an issue.club should come first. All these clubs still involved in their own county championships go most of the season without their inter county players. There should be a rule that as long as a players club is still involved in championship then he may not train/play with the international side. If the club then gets knocked out then by all means join up with the rules side if called up.
There is already little respect shown to the club sides in regards to the farcical nature of our inter county championships. And this is another kick in the teeth for cluns trying to prepare for their championship.
I think the gooch should be commended for choosing his club first, a lot of players could learn a lot from him!
Club should always come first as it’s from there come our greatest players. Personally i’m not a great fan of the international rules, it’s really of zero benefit.
I left at half time at the last digging match. The usual rubbish, Irish players start niggling at the Aussies, then the Aussies punch harder and we start moaning they’re too rough. It’s run it’s course.
Waste of time. Aussies don’t have the skill for the round ball so they’ll just try to intimidate the Irish players. I wonder if any of the drug cheats eg essendon players are in the Aussie team?
Series only shows up the lack of skill level of the Irish team. So used to hand passing they can’t kick pass a ball 10 yards. The amount of one pointers/wides scored by both sides says it all. Series run its course years ago.
I didn’t even look at the last series but seen most of em over the years. Its definitely an area where the Irish get shown up. Don’t think the Aussies had a strong squad the last time, hard to know what to change to get interest back into the series. Looks like its on its last legs.
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I do live watxhing the series but in fairness its only a digging match. Dont blame lads for not wanting to do it
You can’t blame some players from pulling out its a long enough season for them
Smart lads.Why play a match just to get broke up by a bunch of Aussie steroid freaks.
Put this thing to bed. It’s done. No interest here in oz either.
It shouldn’t even be an issue.club should come first. All these clubs still involved in their own county championships go most of the season without their inter county players. There should be a rule that as long as a players club is still involved in championship then he may not train/play with the international side. If the club then gets knocked out then by all means join up with the rules side if called up.
There is already little respect shown to the club sides in regards to the farcical nature of our inter county championships. And this is another kick in the teeth for cluns trying to prepare for their championship.
I think the gooch should be commended for choosing his club first, a lot of players could learn a lot from him!
If it was on in Australia i’d say there would be less withdrawals. Not going to turn down a free holiday down under.
Club should always come first as it’s from there come our greatest players. Personally i’m not a great fan of the international rules, it’s really of zero benefit.
I left at half time at the last digging match. The usual rubbish, Irish players start niggling at the Aussies, then the Aussies punch harder and we start moaning they’re too rough. It’s run it’s course.
Sounds like a lot of lads couldn’t be arsed… Is there any benefit to this series
The GAA do from ticket sales.but again the people filling the stadium get fu€k all,they should get something
Think its a bit off a nuisance alrite, may suit players from outside the top 4-6 to be involved in a big game in croker?
Waste of time. Aussies don’t have the skill for the round ball so they’ll just try to intimidate the Irish players. I wonder if any of the drug cheats eg essendon players are in the Aussie team?
I think it’d be better for the GAA to put more money into promoting the inter-pro tournament & give the Intl rules a miss in future.
Series only shows up the lack of skill level of the Irish team. So used to hand passing they can’t kick pass a ball 10 yards. The amount of one pointers/wides scored by both sides says it all. Series run its course years ago.
James they outplayed the Aussies in the last series. That said the catching and kicking in AFL is far superior to football
I didn’t even look at the last series but seen most of em over the years. Its definitely an area where the Irish get shown up. Don’t think the Aussies had a strong squad the last time, hard to know what to change to get interest back into the series. Looks like its on its last legs.
A hybrid game – neither GAA nor Rugby. I dont like it. Also, its too hard on the body. way too much “get the man” not the ball- involved
?
Dunno has the series run its course. Seems to be very little public interest
It’s muck hybrid sport is pointless might as well stick ruby Walsh in a f1 car