JOE Kernan has announced his 23-man squad for Ireland’s International Rules Test with Australia later this month.
The series will once again be a one-match Test encounter - taking place at Croke Park on Saturday, Novermber 21 - and former Armagh manager Kernan believes his players will have to be at their best to beat the defending champions.
He said: “We’ve been delighted with the response and the hard work put in by players from all over the country in the last eight weeks in a bid to represent Ireland.
“Unfortunately injuries and club commitments have ruled some players out, but I am happy that we have still managed to assemble a very strong squad and it was a difficult job to reduce numbers down to the squad and the standby list.
“Both the players and the management are really looking forward to this EirGrid International Rules test. The fact that the Australians are sending over such a strong team of players means that we will have to up our game if we are to take those boys on and that’s exactly what we are planning to do.”
IRELAND INTERNATIONAL RULES SQUAD
Niall Morgan (Tyrone)
Colm Begley (Laois)
Gary Brennan (Clare)
Bernard Brogan (Dublin) CAPT.
Eoin Cadogan (Cork)
Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone)
Eoin Doyle (Kildare)
Peter Harte (Tyrone)
Darren Hughes (Monaghan)
Lee Keegan (Mayo) VICE CAPT.
Paul Kerrigan (Cork)
Jack McCaffrey (Dublin)
Ciarán McDonald (Tipperary)
Philip McMahon (Dublin)
Conor McManus (Monaghan)
Rory O'Carroll (Dublin)
John O'Loughlin (Laois)
Aidan O'Shea (Mayo)
Michael Quinn (Longford)
Donnchadh Walsh (Kerry)
Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin)
Paul Cribbin (Kildare)
Paddy Mc Brearty (Donegal)
STAND-BY PLAYERS:
Paddy O'Rourke (Meath)
Killian Clarke (Cavan)
Ray Connellan (Westmeath)
Kieran Hughes (Monaghan)
Gearoid McKiernan (Cavan)
Dessie Mone (Monaghan)
Colm O'Neill (Cork)
Enda Smith (Roscommon)
