Dates for this year's International Rules tests in Australia have been announced by the GAA and Australian Football League. The first test will be in Melbourne on Friday October 12th and the second a week later in Adelaide.
Two years ago, the Australian tests attracted record crowds to the same venues with over 65,000 turning up to the MCG to watch the first test and a capacity 45,000 attending at Adelaide's Football Park for the second. There had been speculation that the second test might be moved from Adelaide to Perth but the authorities have stuck with what was a successful schedule in 1999.
January's Eircell Player of the Month award went jointly to Mayo's international handballer Dessie Keegan and Wicklow footballer Tommy Gill. At 19, Keegan has already enjoyed international success in the US. Gill shone in Wicklow's two O'Byrne Cup wins last month, scoring 1-5 against Carlow and a week later hitting 0-8, including the winning scores against Dublin in Aughrim.
The postponed NFL Division Two A match between Monaghan and Wexford has been refixed for next Sunday, but the time and the venue have yet to be sorted out. Monaghan have lodged a complaint at the late deferral of the fixture in Gorey last Saturday and the GAC has agreed to select the venue on this occasion.
As for the game itself, Monaghan's problems are further exacerbated with the news that midfielder James McElroy is ruled out with torn ankle ligaments which he sustained in a club challenge game on Sunday last.
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