Major doubt over Cluxton's availability to travel

GAA:IN ANY other game it would be country before club, but not in the GAA. Here it's more a case of club is country, and that's created a serious a tug of war for the Ireland International Rules management.

Six players named in Ireland manager Anthony Tohill’s 18-man panel last week have found themselves with a club versus country conflict of some sort – although most of those have been accommodated to allow them travel to Australia on Friday, as scheduled.

However, a big question mark remains over the availability of Irish captain and Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton, after his club, Parnells, reached the quarter-finals of the Dublin championship. That game, against Ballymun Kickhams, takes place this Saturday afternoon, so win or lose Cluxton must travel out at least a day later.

Should Parnells win – and current form suggests they’ve every chance – then Cluxton must ultimately decide between club and county, because the Dublin County Board won’t be entertaining any requests for postponements due to the already backlogged championship.

In the meantime Tohill has added the five further names to his panel – bringing it up to the permitted 23 players; Carlow’s Brendan Murphy and Kildare’s Eamon Callaghan, Zach Tuohy and Colm Begley of Laois, along with Kerry and now Sydney Swans representative Tommy Walsh. The problem there is that Begley also happens to play with Parnells – and so finds himself in the same situation as Cluxton. Yet he has indicated that should Parnells win this Saturday he’ll be sticking with them, thus surrendering his place on the Irish panel.

Definitely surrendering his place is Kerry’s Darran O’Sullivan, as he’s now committed to playing with Mid-Kerry in the county final on Sunday week, after requests for a postponement there was turned down. There are also doubts about the availability of Galway’s Finian Hanley, captain of the Salthill/Knocknacarra side that drew with Tuam Stars on Sunday in the county semi-final – and who must replay this weekend. Should Salthill/Knocknacarra progress then the final is set for Sunday week, again with no room for postponement, which would mean no International Rules for Hanley, either.

“It could be a case of one player’s loss is another player’s gain,” says Ireland selector Kevin O’Brien. “But we still have players there on the standby panel, who have trained continuously with us, and would be in good shape.

“But we just don’t know the full 23 right now, and we’ll have to wait and see how this weekend works out. Right now Darran O’Sullivan is the only one definitely gone, because it looks like his county final in Kerry won’t be changed.”

Other players faced with club versus country conflicts are Wicklow’s Leighton Glynn, Down’s Kevin McKernan and Donegal’s Michael Murphy – although fortunately for them a compromise has been reached.

Glynn actually scored the equalising point for Rathnew in the county semi-final against St Patrick’s on Sunday, and while the replay will take place this weekend, the final has been provisionally deferred until November 13th, allowing Glynn to travel out either way, again a day or so late.

Both McKernan and Murphy have also been granted deferments by the Ulster Council, after their clubs, Down’s Burren and Donegal’s Glenswilly, reached the provincial quarter-finals. Originally fixed for October 30th, those games will now take place on November 13th – allowing both players to travel to Australia this Friday.

“Most of our players are flying out Friday,” says O’Brien. “A few more who are involved with the All Stars banquet on Friday night will fly out Saturday. But for Cluxton and Begley there’s no problem following out on the Sunday or Monday, if they want. In fact we’re looking at a flight on the Sunday evening, so that option is there.

“The Ulster Council have just moved their dates so Kevin McKernan and Michael Murphy are both fine. And the same with Leighton Glynn. Tommy Walsh is coming on board now having completed his transfer to Sydney Swans (from St Kilda). That was a bit of a distraction for him, but he was training with us before he went back, and looks to be in good shape.”

The big concern remains over Cluxton: “I’d like to think some compromise can still be reached,” reckons O’Brien. “He’s captain of his country, that’s something special, and is key to our set-up, has put in an enormous effort, and is very keen. Unfortunately it’s all still up in the air right now, but hopefully it will all work out.”

* Australian manager Rodney Eade has named a mostly young rookie squad for the two Tests – in Melbourne on Friday, October 28th, and a week later, November 4th, at the Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast – with only four players in his 24-man panel having previous Test experience.