Tohill calls on Lacey and Kelly

WHILE THE waiting game continues for several Irish International Rules representatives – including Galway’s Finian Hanley, Colm Begley from Laois, and Dublin’s All-Ireland winning goalkeeper and Ireland captain Stephen Cluxton – there are name changes to tomorrow’s scheduled departure list from Dublin to Melbourne.

Donegal centre back Karl Lacey, who was originally named as part of the 31-man provisional panel, has been called in to take the place of Kerry forward Darran O’Sullivan, who is now resigned to putting club before country. He will be joined by Cork’s Patrick Kelly.

However, Lacey still won’t make tomorrow’s flight schedule: he’s up for an All Star award tomorrow, and will thus fly out to Australia on Saturday evening along with a few more of the All Star nominees also on the International Rules panel, including Donegal’s Michael Murphy and Emmet Bolton of Kildare.

Lacey previously played in the International Rules series in 2006, and although training and playing through a knee ligament injury in recent weeks, was always intent on making the trip.

For O’Sullivan, however, there was apparently no room for manoeuvre in the Kerry club championship, meaning his club, Mid-Kerry are down to play Dr Crokes in the final on Sunday week – thus ruling him out of the trip, and prompting this Twitter message yesterday morning: “So it’s confirmed as of this morning, no Oz for me! Cheers county board and munster council ye were no help!”

The big fear for Ireland manager Anthony Tohill, it seems, is the uncertainty over Cluxton: his club, Parnells, reached the quarter-finals of the Dublin championship, and 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 form suggests they’ve every chance – then Cluxton must ultimately decide between club and county.