Ireland panel expected in three weeks

It will be at least three weeks before Ireland manager Paul Earley is ready to name his panel for November's international rules Test in Australia. Practice sessions have been taking place, but players from the All-Ireland finalists Kerry and Donegal have yet to join the training.

However, it is expected that Donegal captain Michael Murphy will again be asked to lead Ireland, as he did in last year's series in Ireland. Those Tests were attended by controversy, as the AFL decided to field a selection restricted to indigenous players, and Ireland won convincingly.

A good number of Earley’s panel is likely to be the same as last year, as the GAA is conscious that the effort put in by the players in securing the biggest-ever series win should be recognised when preparing for what is expected to be a more formidable challenge in November.

“The announcement will be later than usual because the Test in Perth will be played in late November,” said Croke Park’s Feargal McGill.