Tyrone, Kerry, Cork and Armagh supply over half of the 27-man Ireland squad named today by Sean Boylan to travel to Australia for this month’s International Rules Series.
The two All-Ireland finalists lead the way with four representatives each; with captain Sean Cavanagh joined by county team mates Joe McMahon, Justin McMahon and Enda McGinley. Kerry have Kieran Donaghy, Aidan O’Mahony, Tommy Walsh and Killian Young on board.
Next up with three players apiece are Cork and Armagh, while Galway, Meath and Dublin have two representatives each. The remainder of the squad is made up of players from Down, Derry, Laois, Mayo, Wexford, Westmeath and Wicklow.
Boylan has gone for a strong physical looking side with only a couple of players under the six foot mark.
There are some notable inclusions in Mayo’s Tom Parsons, who made his intercounty debut in this year’s championship and Wicklow’s Leighton Glynn, who is the first man from his county to represent Ireland since Kevin O’Brien in the 90’s.
Meath’s David Gallagher is the squad’s goalkeeper. A member of Boylan’s Dunboyne club, Gallagher plays outfield for his club and his last appearance for his county was at full back in a NFL match against Galway in March 2006.
Irish International Rules squad: Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone), Graham Canty (Cork), David Gallagher (Meath), Colm Begley ( Brisbane Lions/Laois), Paddy Bradley (Derry), Bernard Brogan (Dublin), Benny Coulter (Down), Bryan Cullen (Dublin), Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Leighton Glynn (Wicklow), Finian Hanley (Galway), John Keane (Westmeath), Aaron Kernan (Armagh), Ciarán Lyng (Wexford), Steven McDonnell (Armagh), Enda McGinley (Tyrone), Ciarán McKeever (Armagh), Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Justin McMahon (Tyrone), Michael Meehan (Galway), John Miskella (Cork), Aidan O’Mahony (Kerry), Pearse O’Neill (Cork), Tom Parsons (Mayo), Kevin Reilly (Meath), Tommy Walsh (Kerry), Killian Young (Kerry).
Standby: Aidan Carr (Down), Ronan Clarke (Armagh), Paul Finlay (Monaghan), Conor Gormley (Tyrone), Kevin McCloy (Derry), Martin McGrath (Fermanagh).
The county break-up is: Tyrone (4), Kerry (4), Cork (3), Armagh (3), Galway (2), Dublin (2), Meath (2), Down (1), Derry (1), Laois (1), Mayo (1), Wexford (1), Westmeath (1), Wicklow (1).
