Kennelly main injury doubt in Irish camp

Gaelic Games Rules Series team news: Former Kerry player Tadgh Kennelly, who has been hampered in recent weeks with a lower back injury, is the main injury concern for Ireland manager Pete McGrath ahead of the International Rules series with Australia.

Kennelly has been training with the Irish panel this week, but is known to be still suffering some effects of the injury.

Kennelly played with his club Listowel Emmet's in last Saturday's Kerry championship quarter-final against An Ghaeltacht but he was well short of his usually high influential role. Yet his experience with the Australian game through the Sydney Swans over the past five years will ensure McGrath will give him every chance of playing at least some part this Sunday.

"Since I've come home I have been kept busy getting treatment for the injury, but I feel that I'm getting better every day," said Kennelly. The former Kerry minor and under-21 player missed last year's series through injury, but did play a major role in the Irish team in the 2002 series.

Yesterday Fermanagh midfielder Martin McGrath joined the Irish panel as Tomás Ó Sé's replacement - bringing the total number of counties represented to 15.

GAA president Seán Kelly has said he intends to fully investigate the incident which led to Ó Sé's broken jaw, incurred in an off-the-ball incident during that county quarter-final against Listowel Emmets, played under floodlights in Tralee last Saturday. Ó Sé is expected to be out of action for at least three weeks, and will thus miss An Ghaeltacht's semi-final.

In hurling news, John Allen has emerged as the leading candidate for the vacant Cork hurling manager's post. Cork are expected to look internally for a replacement and Allen served as a selector under previous manager Donal O'Grady along with Seanie O'Leary and Seán O'Brien.

The Cork County Board are also considering an alternative date for the county hurling final between Na Piarsaigh and Cloyne because of the clash with the second International Rules test on October 24th. The Ó hAilpín brothers, Seán and Setanta, are due to play in both games.