Merging on ridiculous, says Hayes

Ian O'Riordan finds many in the Gaelic football fraternity in favour of the International Rules game, with Liam Hayes a major dissenting voice

Hunter S Thompson believed the key to success as a sportswriter was: (1) A blind willingness to believe anything you're told by coaches, PRs, hustlers, and other "official spokesmen" for the team owners who provide the free booze . . . and (2) A Roget's Thesaurus, to avoid using the same verbs and adjectives twice in the same paragraph.

Thompson would have had no trouble applying himself to the International Rules. Like the war in Iraq or the property market, the hybrid game is constantly backed by those with a vested interest (the GAA, the AFL, the players, the media, etc). Once they're believed, the thesaurus helps describe the pride and joy in watching it.

There's little reason not to believe. With this evening's opening Test in Galway a sell-out, and next Sunday at Croke Park headed that way, the game appears more popular than ever. The players rarely sing anything other than high praise for the whole experience and Irish manager Seán Boylan has taken on his role with all the fervour of his long tenure with Meath. Everybody, it seems, is ready to "play hard".

But, in some cases, the thesaurus is equally useful in describing the fear and loathing induced in watching it. Their arguments against also run to the extremes.

What can't be argued is the country's best footballers and managers have been continually drawn to the International Rules since its formal inception in 1984.

Séamus Moynihan, who last month retired as a Kerry footballer with his fourth All-Ireland, was one of the finest exponents of the game, a regular for Ireland from 1998 to 2002. "It was a great honour for me at the time," he says, "to represent the country. And I still believe that for the players involved now, because they just wouldn't get that opportunity otherwise.

"For me nothing would compare to winning an All-Ireland with Kerry. But it did mean a lot to be able to play for your country, and wear that Irish jersey. Even as a young kid I always found the games very exciting. There was something different about them, that you never knew what was around the corner. It is a bit more physical, but it's still a very fast and intense game, and a great team game as well, with the replacements coming on and off so much. I think all that adds to it and I have nothing but good memories from it."

Brian McEniff, who guided Donegal to their only All-Ireland football title in 1992 and is one of the great servants to the GAA, was Ireland manager in 2000 and 2001. "I'll never forget standing in the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in a line with the Irish team, and the playing of the national anthem before the start of the 2001 Test. It raised the hair on the back of my neck, and I remember thinking it doesn't get any better than this.

"And I know the guys that played under me cherish their Irish jersey. In my second year as manager, when we went down to Australia, one of our players travelled out a day later because he was involved with his club team in a county final. He was one of Tyrone's under-21 stars, Cormac McAnallen. His parents came out too because this was such a huge deal for him, to play for Ireland. He was so enthusiastic about it, loved the whole scene, and to me Cormac will always sum up what it means to Gaelic footballers to play for Ireland."

McAnallen died suddenly in 2004, and the International Rules trophy is now named in his honour. It's practically impossible to find a Gaelic footballer who doesn't speak fondly of his experience playing for Ireland. For Kerry's Pat Spillane, who coined the phrase "puke football" after the overly physical style of certain Ulster teams, his bite of the game in 1987 still tastes as sweet.

"I think if it's played in the right spirit it's a fantastic game," says Spillane. "And I've always been a fan. I also think it's made for TV, and the whole concept has fabulous potential to be developed further, and say teams from rugby league or even basketball brought into it."

On that basis, former Meath player Liam Hayes represents the minority (along with Tyrone manager Mickey Harte). He played in the 1984 series and featured in 1987, yet has no problem admitting he's used his old Ireland jerseys to wash his car. Hayes has frequently used his Sunday Tribune newspaper column to express his dislike of the game, saying it's a sort of "Reality TV" phenomenon, and he believes plenty more people feel the same.

"There are dozens of people I talk to over the course of the week that would share that view," he says. "People are entitled to take their view, but I believe there is a large dose of dishonesty at work in the people that praise this thing. Most of the people asked about it are either former players or managers, who of course have nice things to say about it.

"What you also have is the GAA on this junket ride, whether it's to Dubai or Australia or wherever, and nobody is critical of what they're doing. But they're not doing anything for our own game, and I don't think people are asking the hard questions.

"The GAA decision-makers need to put their hand on their hearts, especially when you get claptrap from the top table about lack of time for club games and the packed calendar, and yet they're giving two weeks to this farce."

Part of the problem in assessing the International Rules is that the mood often changes. Nobody condoned the violent scenes that marred last year's series in Australia, and it is GAA enemy number one when discipline goes out of control. The same when it comes to club fixtures and the threat of young talent taking up an Australian football contract.

"Obviously what happened last year was a real downer to the whole series," says Moynihan. "Things definitely got over-physical, but I'd be confident enough that will be amended this year, and I'd be expecting a couple of very good games. I never felt it was too rough, not in my time anyway. There was certainly no quarter spared or given, but I never felt things ever got over-physical.

"I was fortunate as well in that we did enjoy some good success when I was involved, winning in 1999 below in Australia, and when we were away again in 2001. And to do that with guys from other counties that you'd normally be clashing against was great. To play and win with them, especially against a country like Australia that you know are so competitive in everything they do. They're all professionals and when you beat Australia it certainly means a lot, and again something I found very satisfying again.

"But it is a good idea to put it back to every two years. I know there was that farcical situation a few weeks back where Kieran Donaghy and Aidan O'Mahony had to play a Railway Cup match on the Friday night, and then train with the International Rules on the Saturday, and then play with their clubs on the Sunday. That definitely doesn't make sense.

"But I would like to see it continue for the players' sake. You get a glimpse of what it feels like to be a professional. Even looking at how the Australians were treated, and how they trained and looked after themselves. That's a great experience and something I know can only help your own game back home."

McEniff describes the violence last year as "unacceptable" but is equally hopeful and confident the series will survive. As a strong supporter of the Railway Cup he feels the GAA's skills in marketing and promotion need to shift more in the direction of that competition, but there's both room and a need for the International Rules.

"I was in Canada in the 1960s when I first came across Australian football, and from the very start I saw the potential of the game. I was involved from the first tour here in 1984, and I think it's in our nature to enjoy a good, physical game, and the International Rules allows our players to do that on an international level.

"When I was involved as manager the thing was taken very seriously. We were stung badly by the Australians at home in 2000. I still put my hands up and say I got it wrong, but I always remember after losing the second Test in Croke Park, when we were horsed off the field, all the players were really down about it. Later when we got up to the sixth level box for the drinks reception I sat down at a table on my own, and nobody sat down beside me.

"That's how we felt about it. I went back to my hotel with nothing to eat and didn't come out until lunchtime the following day. But there was no talk of anyone walking away from this. We were all so motivated and focused going down to Australia the following year, to win it, which we did. That's part of what the experience is all about."

It's hard not to empathise with McEniff's and Moynihan's enduring belief in and passion for the game, which clearly comes from the heart. It's a little more difficult to understand what turned Hayes off the game, but he says he had his doubts from the start.

"I was always sceptical about it, mainly because the whole game is 90 per cent alien to the Australians. The goalmouth, the shape of the field, the ball, and the general rules, all accommodate Gaelic football. The fact is there's no real relationship between Gaelic football and Australian Rules. I think if more GAA men take that view in the future then we'll have some proper analysis of the series, and what it really offers our game.

"If it did mean that much then it wouldn't be still making a mockery of itself 22 years later, still so uncertain about its future. It would have grown and matured and have a legacy already, when it doesn't have any of that. Instead the series goes into a cycle of violence every few years. And I was quite amused when the GAA took the high moral ground last year when the Australians cut up a bit on the Irish team. You'd see the same in two out of three parishes up and down the country every Sunday.

"So to say the series will live or die on the basis of the level of violence says in itself that the whole thing is flawed, and has weaknesses everywhere else. There is a spectacle to the thing, but that doesn't mean people are really interested, and feel triumphant if Ireland win, and disappointed if Ireland lose. It doesn't have any emotional impact on Irish people or even GAA people.

"But I can still understand why people like to go. I'll be bringing my four kids to Croke Park next Sunday. I've always liked the circus, and go there at least once a year. I'll go along to this thing in the same light."

1984 Páirc Uí Chaoimh hosts the first official International Rules Test on October 21st, with 8,000 witnessing the Australians win 70-57. Ireland win the second Test in Croke Park, setting up a series decider at the same venue a week later. In front of 32,000 spectators, Australia are inspired by the likes of Terri Danaher, James Platten, Stephen Malaxos and Robert Di Pierdomenico (the Big Dipper) and take the inaugural honours, winning the final Test 76-71.

Series consisted of three Tests with Australia winning by 14 points (Ireland 208, Australia 222).

FIRST TEST: IRELAND 57 AUSTRALIA 70 (October 21st , Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 8,000. Ireland: M Furlong, N Roche, M Lyons, S McHugh, J Kerrigan, T Spillane, PJ Buckley, J O'Shea, S Fahy, B Rock, E Liston, D McNicholl, C O'Rourke, T Dwyer, M Connor. Interchange: S Walsh, R Connor, L Tierney, J Costello, L Hayes, B O'Donnell).

SECOND TEST: IRELAND 80 AUSTRALIA 76 (October 28th, Croke Park, 12,500. Ireland: Furlong, Roche, Lyons, McHugh, Kerrigan, Spillane, Buckley, O'Shea, Walsh, P McGinnity, Fahy, McNicholl, Rock, O'Rourke, O'Donnell. Interchange: L Austin, L Tierney, G Blaney, M Martin, F McMahon, P Donaghy).

THIRD TEST: IRELAND 71 AUSTRALIA 76 (November 4th, Croke Park, 32,318. Ireland: Furlong, Roche, Lyons, McHugh, Kerrigan, Spillane, Buckley, O'Shea, Fahy, Rock, Liston, McNicholl, O'Rourke, Dwyer, Connor. Interchange: Walsh, R Connor, Tierney, J Costello, Hayes, O'Donnell).

1986 Ireland visit Australia for the first time, recording a 2-1 series victory in Tests played in Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide. But crowds are lower than anticipated and the future of the series looks uncertain.

Series consisted of three Tests with Ireland winning by 32 points (Ireland 174, Australia 142).

FIRST TEST: IRELAND 57 AUSTRALIA 64 (October 10th, Perth. Ireland: J O'Leary, N Cahalane, B McGilligan, C Murray, M Holden, P O'Byrne, G Hargan, J O'Shea , T Spillane, G Blaney, D McNicholl , V Daly , J O'Driscoll , J McNally , J Kerrigan . Interchange: C O'Rourke , P Spillane , M Lyons, M Fagan)

SECOND TEST: IRELAND 62 AUSTRALIA 46 (October 19th, Melbourne, 10,883. Ireland: O'Leary, Cahalane, McGilligan, Murray, S McHugh, O'Byrne, Hargan, O'Shea, Fagan, Blaney , D O'Hagan , Daly, McNicholl , O'Driscoll , Kerrigan . Interchange: Lyons, N Roche, McNally, T Spillane).

THIRD TEST: IRELAND 55 AUSTRALIA 32 November 1st, Adelaide, 10,000. Ireland: O'Leary, Cahalane, McGilligan, Murray, McHugh, O'Byrne, Hargan, O'Shea, Fagan, Blaney, O'Hagan, Daly, McNicholl, O'Driscoll, Kerrigan. Interchange: Lyons, Roche , McNally , T McCarthy).

1990 The fourth series sees the excellent record of visiting teams maintained with Ireland regaining honours. However, attendances of around 7,000 at the second and third games force a rethink with the GAA and AFL and the series goes into a seven-year hiatus. (Series consisted of three Tests with Ireland winning by 24 points (Ireland 143, Australia 119).

FIRST TEST: IRELAND 47 AUSTRALIA 38 (November 2nd, Melbourne, 18,332. Ireland: P Comer, T Scullion, S O'Brien, N Roche, K Barr, P O'Byrne, M Gavigan, M Grimley, B O'Malley, A Mullholland, V Daly, J O'Shea, B Flynn, J Stynes, K O'Brien. Interchange: E Heery , P Curran, J Grimley, J McCartan, B Sex.)

SECOND TEST: IRELAND 52 AUSTRALIA 31 (November 10th, Canberra, 7,000. Ireland: Comer, Scullion, O'Brien, Roche, Mullholland, O'Byrne, Gavigan, O'Malley, Grimley, Daly, O'Shea, Curran, Flynn, Stynes, O'Brien. Interchange: Heery, T Carr, McCartan, M Fagan, B Sex).

THIRD TEST: IRELAND 44 AUSTRALIA 50 (November 17th, Perth, 7,700. Ireland: Comer, Scullion, K Fagan, M Fagan, Mullholland, O'Byrne, Gavigan, O'Malley, Grimley, P Barrett, Stynes, Daly, Flynn, E Liston, D Barry. Interchange: Curran, O'Shea, B Burke, M Plunkett, O'Brien.)

1998 The rebirth of the series proves a success. Extensive marketing and an improvement in the quality help draw the crowds, with the 35,000 who see Ireland become the first team to win the series on home soil a record for an international between the two countries.

Series consisted of two Tests with Ireland winning by 10 points (Ireland 128, Australia 118.

FIRST TEST: IRELAND 61 AUSTRALIA 62 (October 11th, Croke Park, 23,000. Ireland: F McConnell, J Kenny, D Fay, SM Lockhart, F Cullen, J Nallen, K McGeeney, J McDermott, A Tohill, J Fallon, C McManamon, B Stynes, B Devenney, D McCabe, P Canavan. Interchange: D Marsden, P Brewster, D Foley, S Moynihan , M Donnellan, S de Paor, G Ryan, K O'Brien.)

SECOND TEST: IRELAND 67 AUSTRALIA 56 (October 18th, Croke Park, 35,000. Ireland: McConnell, Moynihan, Fay, Lockhart, Cullen, Nallen, Ryan, McDermott, Foley, Fallon, N Buckley, Stynes, McCabe, Tohill, Canavan. Interchange: M Daly, S Ó Domhnaill, G Cavlan, Brewster, Donnellan, de Paor, J Kenny.)

2005 Ireland travel to Australia with high expectations having comfortably won the 2004 series in Croke Park but the physical element goes way overboard, particularly in the second Test, and Australia prove comfortable winners.

(Series consisted of two Tests with Australia winning by 57 points (Ireland 106, Australia 163)

FIRST TEST: AUSTRALIA 100 IRELAND 64 (21st October, 2005, Subiaco Oval, Perth, 39,098. Ireland: M McVeigh; S Óg Ó hAilpín, G Canty, T Ó Sé; C McManus, T Kelly, B Cullen; C McDonald, S Cavanagh; B Dooher, B Coulter, S O'Neill; O Mulligan, P Joyce, M Forde. Interchange: E Brosnan, R Clarke, C Cooper, D Heaney, SM Lockhart, A Lynch, B McGuigan, M Meehan.)

SECOND TEST: AUSTRALIA 63 IRELAND 42 (28th October, 2005, Subiaco Oval, Perth, 45,488. Ireland: McVeigh; Óg Ó hÁilpín, Kelly, R McMenamin; P Jordan, Cullen, Lynch; Cavanagh, Canty; R Munnelly, Coulter, Dooher; Joyce, Clarke, D Dolan. Interchange: Cooper, Forde, D Heaney, Lockhart, McDonald, McManus, O'Neill, Ó Sé)

The 2006 International Rules represents the 13th series, with Ireland and Australia sharing the honours (Ireland 6, Australia 6). Interestingly, both Ireland and Australia have a better record away than at home, by one each. Although an Australian Rules teams visited Ireland as far back as 1967, playing the All-Ireland champions Meath and later Mayo in two exhibition games, it was the Australian schoolboy tours in Ireland in 1981 and 1984 and later a Dublin Colleges team that toured Australia in 1983 that provided the foundation for the first senior International Rules series in 1984.