Galway trio named on panel

Five of the remaining eight places on the Irish International Rules panel have been filled by players from Galway and Kildare as manager Colm O'Rourke makes final preparations for Sunday's first Test against the Australians in Croke Park. As expected, Mayo's Colm McManamon and Clare corner forward Martin Daly copper-fastened their selection after a fine showing at last Saturday's trial in Omagh and Tyrone goalkeeper Finbarr McConnell also clinched a place.

Three Galway players have been chosen, Ja Fallon, Michael Donnellan and Sean De Paor, and they are expected to add attacking power, while Kildare's Glen Ryan and Niall Buckley also made the cut.

"We needed to include mobile players," said O'Rourke. "Sean de Paor suits this in that he is a half back who can also kick scores. Ja Fallon was someone who just took to the game naturally and Michael Donnellan is an obvious asset. We see Glen Ryan and Niall Buckley as being tremendous utility players." Up to 15 players were in contention for the last places and O'Rourke admitted that eliminating players who had been training with the panel from the outset had been difficult. Referring to two players seen as possible contenders, Derry's Gary Coleman and Donegal's Jim McGuinness, O'Rourke acknowledged that they had "shown tremendous enthusiasm and had worked very hard despite having to travel very long distances each weekend.

"They essentially have been giving their weekends to this, as have other players and excluding them was hard," he said.

The sole link with the last Irish International Rules side is Wicklow's Kevin O'Brien, who was outstanding in the last series in 1990. He has been chosen on a replacement panel of five along with Jim McGuinness, Micheal Magill (Down), Eoin Gormley (Tyrone) and Damien Donlon (Roscommon).

The Irish squad will assemble for a light training session on Saturday evening and may also have a brief kicking session on Sunday morning before the 3 p.m. match at Croke Park.

Meanwhile, the Australian squad are scheduled to arrive in Dublin late tonight and have arranged a training session in Croke Park for midday on Thursday.

"We feel we have an exceptionally strong panel and we would hope to carry the advantage in terms of physical size, tackling and fitness," said Australian Rules player James Hird, whose inclusion was prevented by a stress fracture.

He is already in Dublin with an advance party helping to promote the series. "I think the Australians are very wary of the speed of the Irish players and naturally, they will be more comfortable with using the round ball."

The Test will be particularly poignant for Dubliner Jim Stynes, who is retiring after a glittering 11-year professional career with Melbourne. He will potentially match up against his brother Jim on Sunday but bows out of competitive sport after the series.

Tickets for the match are on sale at the GAA Museum in Croke Park or from the ticket hotline (1850 450 500). The highest prices are £12 for the Hogan Stand and New Stand.

Irish Panel

J McDermott captain, D Fay (both Meath), P Canavan vice-captain, F McConnell (both Tyrone), J Fallon, S de Paor, M Donnellan (all Galway), N Buckley, G Ryan (both Kildare), K McGeeney, D Marsden (both Armagh), A Tohill, S M Lockhart (both Derry), J Kenny, F Cullen (both Offaly), J Nallen, C McManamon (both Mayo), P Brewster (Fermanagh), B Stynes (Dublin), C Parkinson (Laois), S Moynihan (Kerry), B Devenney (Donegal), D Foley (Tipperary), D McCabe (Cavan), M Daly (Clare).

Replacements: Kevin O'Brien (Wicklow), Jim McGuinness (Donegal), Micheal Magill (Down), Eoin Gormley (Tyrone), Damien Donlon (Roscommon).