Ireland v Australia

[moomba]

If anyone has details on dates, tickets etc please post away.

 

[jim boy]

Tickets for the General public aren't available yet, see http://www.gaa.ie/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=1730. However this deal with the fanatics http://www.thefanatics.com/packman/index.php?tour=33 looks tempting for me

 

[Duggie]

lads if ur interested read this,its not a bad squad for us but were missing id 8-10 really good players. the team are fast and skillfull with a lot of good goal and point takers. cant wait for the games. maybe when the aussie team is announced someone will post it up here.

Coca Cola International Rules Panel Announced


Wednesday, September 1st

The Ireland International Rules team manager Pete Mc Grath has announced the provisional panel of players from which the Irish team to play Australia for next October' s Coca Cola International Rules Series will be picked. The full panel of 42 is:

Philip Loughran Armagh
Steven Mc Donnell Armagh
Graham Canty Cork
Anthony Lynch Cork
Setanta O hAilpín Cork/Carlton
Feargal Doherty Derry
Sean Martin Lockhart Derry
Enda Muldoon Derry
Brendan Coulter Down
Michael Mc Veigh Down
Alan Brogan Dublin
Stephen Cluxton Dublin
Brian Cullen Dublin
Martin Mc Grath Fermanagh
Barry Owens Fermanagh
Padraig Joyce Galway
Eoin Brosnan Kerry
Colm Cooper Kerry
Michael Mc Carthy Kerry
Tomás Ó Sé Kerry
Declan O Sullivan Kerry
Tadhg Kennelly Kerry/Sydney Swans
Tom Kelly Laois
John Galvin Limerick
Paul Barden Longford
David Heaney Mayo
Kieran Mc Donald Mayo
Ronan Mc Garrity Mayo
Trevor Mortimer Mayo
James Nallen Mayo
Ciarán Mc Manus Offaly
Seamus O Neill Roscommon
Declan Browne Tipperary
Sean Cavanagh Tyrone
Philip Jordan Tyrone
Brian Mc Guigan Tyrone
Ryan Mc Menamin Tyrone
Stephen O Neil Tyrone
Dessie Dolan Westmeath
Denis Glennon Westmeath
Rory O Connell Westmeath
Mattie Forde Wexford



Mr Mc Grath stressed that the panel was by no means finalised and that additions could be made in the coming weeks. He also confirmed that Padraig Joyce will act as captain. This will be the Galway player's fourth series in an Irish Jersey and he has scored an impressive 32 points in his seven games for Ireland to date.

Pete Mc Grath's selectors for the series are former Dublin goalkeeper and Wicklow manager, John O'Leary, former Cork All Ireland winning captain and manager Larry Tompkins and former Galway footballer and Galway and Roscommon manager, John Tobin. Mickey Linden, who was part of Mc Grath's two All Ireland winning Down teams, will act as runner and Dr Con Murphy will be the Team Doctor.

GAA President Sean Kelly said he felt that this was a particularly strong Irish panel and he was confident that Ireland were capable of defeating Australia over the two tests: "Interest in the International Rules series has spiralled since it was re-established in 1998 and the games should attract large attendances to Croke Park in October. Pete Mc Grath and his players have a huge task ahead of them, but I have no doubt they will represent their country with great pride and honour " . He also made reference to the fact that the Association will be running a major marketing campaign to promote the series and that details of ticket availability and prices would be announced at a later date.

Speaking at the announcement, Mo Durkan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager for Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland, wished the newly appointed captain and panel every success with the challenges and preparations ahead : "We are delighted with the choice Padraig Joyce as captain of the Irish team. With the playing squad announced today, an already impressive management structure in place, and with the support of Coca-Cola, the Irish team are in a strong position to regain the title they last held in 2001".

She added: "Coca-Cola's sponsorship of the International Rules Series and the Irish team complements the long-standing relationship between the company and the Gaelic Athletic Association, and demonstrates Coca-Cola's commitment to supporting active lifestyle initiatives in Ireland, including Feile Peile na nOg, Feile na nGael, the Leinster College, and All-Ireland College GAA competitions".

 

[fabulousphil]

Love the international rules, cant see why many amatuer irish and aussie clubs are not visiting each other to play international rules footy, good way to see another country and have a few drinks .

 

[Duggie]

ya cant wait for it myself,do u know when the ur team is been announced or will it be after ur finals? on the club question what about the AFL winner v the ALL-IRELAND winners but then i suppose players would overlap on the country sides as well.

 

[dogsbody]

Back in the 80’s when it really kicked off, one yeear the Irish came out here and they looked as if they had built themselves up in the Gym. Jack O’Shea looked particularly developed. Will the Irish players spend time trying to bulk up a bit more to withstand the tackling ?

 

[Duggie]

they dont go to the gym for this game in particular, but all GAA players now would be in the gym regularly. also a lot of the clubs have there own gyms now. some of the guys would be well built naturally but others wouldnt. but the aussies are always going to be more physical. back in the 80's those game were just one big punch up anyways.

 

[Duggie]

ya a bit of the physical stuff makes the game better i think aswell. but i think also ye would be happier to fight than play the game.

 

[Duggie]

a bit of skill and a bit of the hard stuff so. did scarlett hit graham gerathy i think? he loves the rough stuff anyway. he was the player that got banned a few years ago for givin a racist comment to a player on one of ur local teams ire played bfore the played the test match. id love the gaa went proffesional myself. how much do afl players earn weekly?

 

[raboyle]

I'm looking forward to the series. I can't get enough of it... have paid close attention to it since it was officially sanctioned by both organisations.

Will definitely stay up late to watch this series.

And yes Scarlett is ineligible for selection until IR-2005.

 

[zero]

hmmmm, what date are they on? might have to get my ass over there and support the boys, especially as the london exhibition game isnt happening this year, and because my ticket to the australia-pakistan final in amsterdam was left unused because ********ing british airways cancelled my ********ing flight.

grrr, my blood still boils when i think about it...... six 30 quid seats (about $400 aus) waiting for us at the ground and we are stuck at heathrow.......

 

[hirthy]

What happened to Moinahan? (not sure of spelling) he was a gun for the Irish. And also Canavan? The guy who was suspended for last years series?

 

[The Biff]

The dates for the two tests are October 17th and 24th, both Sundays. I think both are timed to start at 2 pm local time in Dublin so (according to www.timeanddate.com) that should be 9 pm in Perth and 11 pm in Melbourne and Sydney.

Both players mentioned above (Seamus Moynihan of Kerry and Peter Canavan of Tyrone) have both missed most of this season through injury. Moynihan is approaching fitness and has an outside chance of being fit for the All-Ireland Final on Sept.27 (Kerry vs Mayo). I reckon if he makes that then he may be added to our squad. Canavan is unlikely to feature at this stage. Remember his great tussles with Jason Akermanis two years ago? Is HE still playing?

The Irish know that no amount of gym work could possibly add significant bulk to match your professional players in a couple of months. So we cant hope to match you in the "Biff" stakes (and that's NOT where my nickname comes from). Everyone wants the game to be tough and physical, but the type of stuff that Matthew Scarlett did last year - well, that's just not "sport" to me, not unless you're in a boxing ring.

 

[Duggie]

ya i hope moynihan is fit hed add a huge presence at the back. i think sean cavanagh of tyrone could be the star man for ire this year. also if mcdonald makes the final panel his accurate passing could be a factor for us aswell. (not sure if the aussies will know who these are)!

 

[Powerstufff]

I enjoy the games I went to a test here in Adelaide a few years ago and would do so again.
I wouldn't put too much store in the professional v amateur sportsmen stuff that some of the earlier posters discuss. Those Irish guys give us absolute curry every time.
You know what would be good? Our team should finish the series challenging them to a game of Gaelic football (which they'd cream us at). Then next year we should finish here with them challenging us to a game of Aussie Rules.

 

[The Biff]

Kieran McDonald

It might be the one time that McDonald does NOT get any slagging over his hairstyle. Past years have proved that some of the Aussies have some of the worst hairstyles ever displayed in public by a man. Loads of mullets, flop-tops, quiffs, ..... not to mention John Platten's unique style.

Duggie, do you ever drop in on the GAA Discussion Board? - www.gaaboard.com

 

[Duggie]

ya that would be interesting alright. but wed beat ye at gaelic and u would beat us at aussie rules. as for the professional v amateur well were at the height of our championship and club games so our players are super fit so that wouldnt be to much of a factor. we have left out some big names from the squad this season though so it will be interesting. also ur commentators at games are brilliant!!

 

[maddog]

Ah Biff, good to see you've already started the ball rolling. Are you heading to either test yourself? I'll likely go to the first one as i can see the second one being a bit boring with Ireland 20 or 30 clear.

 

[Sid]

As i said before, kennelly will play for the aussies. If i get proved wrong, then ill cop it.

 

[Dinga_19]

Has anyone got a pic of Scarlett's punch and/or Scott's?

 

[sportsfan7]

Two years ago, over 71,000 turned up in a "monsoon" for the Second Test in Croke Park.

I know!! I was there. Bloody miserable weather. Blizzard would be a better word. Magnificent crowd though and very friendly despite losing.

Also went to the U21 final at Portlaios. Pity Kerry didn't make it so we could see Tadhg play.

Both Tadhg Kennelly and Setanta O'hAilpin have been named in the provisional Irish squad today. We await fitness reports to see if you Aussie's are trying to sabotage our players even before the games start.

Tadhg still has four games to play (we hope). Our other Irishman (M O'Loughlin) might be selected as well.

Will Big Bad Barry Hall travel this year?

Quite likely I think. He has no injuries and certainly seemed to enjoy himeslf last year.

 

[RaMa]

Has anyone got a pic of Scarlett's punch and/or Scott's?

"Then in the eighth minute the Australian's reverted to thuggery, when Brad Scott punched Geraghty in the face repeatedly. He got sent off for his crime but it was such a cowardly and vicious display of fist fighting that he should never be allowed compete in the series again. As the two players held each other by the collar Scott lashed out with a closed fist. As the Meath forward ducked, Scott struck again and then as Geraghty fell to the ground he was smacked once more. To Geraghty's credit he never retaliated or tried to get involve in a brawl."

 

[TigerCraig]

looked like a love tap to me

 

[chris p79]

As i said before, kennelly will play for the aussies. If i get proved wrong, then ill cop it.

Why on earth would Kennelly play for us? what about O'hAilpin, is he playing?

 

[chris p79]

By the way, can anybody clear this up for me, apparently Setanta O'hAilpin's background is in Hurling, not Gaelic Football? That seems quite bizarre....