International Rules 2011

TG4 Ireland International Rules Preliminary Panel 2011

Australian based - Tommy Walsh (Kerry/St Kilda), Michael Quinn (Longford /Essendon), Chrissy McKaigue (Derry/Sydney Swans), Zach Touhy (Laois - Carlton), Tadhg Kennelly (Kerry/Sydney Swans), Pearse Hanley (Mayo/Brisbane Lions)

Kildare - Rob Kelly, Emmet Bolton, Tomas O'Connor, Eamon Callaghan

Cork - Eoin Cadogan, Aidan Walsh, Patrick Kelly

Donegal - Karl Lacey, Neil McGee, Michael Murphy

Armagh - Steven McDonnell, Ciarán McKeever

Down - Danny Hughes, Kevin McKernan

Kerry - Kieran Donaghy, Darran O'Sullivan

Dublin - Stephen Cluxton

Carlow - Brendan Murphy

Galway - Finian Hanley

Laois - Colm Begley

Mayo - Donal Vaughan

Meath - Kevin Reilly

Monaghan - Darren Hughes

Tyrone - Joe McMahon

Wicklow - Leighton Glynn

Lambs to the slaughter....

This would be my starting team:

Stephen Cluxton

Karl Lacey - Kevin Reilly - Eoin Cadogan

Emmett Bolton - Kevin McKernan - Colm Begley

Aidan Walsh - Keiran Donaghy

Leigton Glynn - Paddy Kelly - Eammon Callaghan

Stephen McDonnell - Tommy O'Connor - Michael Murphy

Not too familiar with the young Irish lads in Australia but no doubt they will feature prominently. Disappointed some more of the Dublin lads didn't make the 31 but club rules I guess. Same with the Kielts in Derry, and possibly Sheehan in Kerry? Sean Cavanagh is unfortunetely injured. Hugh McGrillen, Eoghan O'Flaherty and Mick Foley are others from Kildare who could have joined the four that made it. From Meath, Kevin Reilly is probably the best Compromise Rules footballer in the last 10 years.

All things considered, it's a decent panel and I look forward to the 28th.

Loyal, if you trawled through the whole of Ireland, trying to find a slower full-forward line than that one, you'd be hard pushed to succeed.

I hope that Tohill has the sense to play 8-9 men in defence, in the hope that the Aussie's lack of skills are exposed in a cramped space. Although, to be fair, I'm not so sure that our skills are any better.

Australia will win this by as much as they want to. If they are properly prepared and interested, there could be a cumulative 50 points in it. Ireland's only hope is that the Aussies are even more bored with the series as the top Irish stars evidently are.

Has Cluxton overcome his fear of flying?????

bocerty wrote:Has Cluxton overcome his fear of flying?????

I think he has been on cloud nine since 18 September.

bocerty wrote:Has Cluxton overcome his fear of flying?????

I'd suspect he has overcome his fear of people. Very private individual, and long trips away from home don't normally appeal to such types. Fair play to him for going.

If an explanation for the phrase "not a sport" was ever sought, this cockology would be the perfect example... Down with this sort of thing...

Fookin hell lads ease up on the negativity. Sure it's only a bit of craic, it may not be quality stuff but we'll no doubt get a few memorable moments out of it.

Would have no time for it at all. I think it is a pointless exercise with absolutely nothing to gain from a GAA perspective. On the contrary it may offer a window for Aussie Rules shoppers.

Jonsmith wrote:Fookin hell lads ease up on the negativity. Sure it's only a bit of craic

It costs a fortune to prepare and send a squad to Australia JS. That money could be put to much better use if it was invested in gaelic games instead.

I've watched pretty much all the games since the 1984 series, and I'd consider the series to be in terminal decline. Look at the names who played in the 80s, or even in 1998/9 - legends of the game on both sides. A lot of the the top players on the Irish side no longer have any interest, while the top aussies have even less. The game has not developed as a spectacle and, just as importantly for public appeal, there is no sense of context or storyline to these games. They are isolated events, void of any rivalry, in no small part due to the fact that the panels change so much from year to year, with fewer and fewer stars on show.

Time to put this back on the shelf. Or, better still, bury it in the garden.

Boxtyeater wrote:If an explanation for the phrase "not a sport" was ever sought, this cockology would be the perfect example... Down with this sort of thing...

Agreed, this should be in the Non-GAA section! I fecking hate this hybrid harlott of a game, it's nothing other than a jolly boys outting for the GAA bigwigs and bullsh1tters! Waste of time and money!

The biggest heap of sh1t that ever lived this.

18 players named. 5 more to be named later. The 18 are:

Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
Ciarán McKeever (Armagh)
Emmet Bolton (Kildare)
Eoin Cadogan (Cork)
Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)
Leighton Glynn (Wicklow)
Finian Hanley (Galway)
Pearse Hanley (Mayo/Brisbane Lions)
Darren Hughes (Monaghan)
Tadgh Kennelly (Kerry/Sydney Swans)
Steven Mc Donnell (Armagh)
Kevin McKernan (Down)
Joe McMahon (Tyrone)
Neil McGee (Donegal)
Michael Murphy (Donegal)
Darran O'Sullivan (Kerry)
Kevin Reilly (Meath)
Aidan Walsh (Cork)

Stephen Cluxton is captain. Ciaran McKeever is vice-captain. McKeever must have rediscovered some of his old form - didn't think he'd be on the panel, let alone vice-captain. Fair play to him. Cluxton's participation must still be doubtful with Parnells busy in the Dublin SFC championship. Of the others, all of them are predictable enough. Finian Hanley, Pearse Hanley, Darren Hughes and Darren O'Sullivan are probably the most surprising but I wouldn't complain about any of them being included.

The remaining 5 will be picked from the other 13 that made up the original 31 man training panel. I presume. I'd say it'll be the following:

Eammon Callaghan (Kildare)
Karl Lacey (Donegal)
Brendan Murphy (Carlow)
Tommy Walsh (Kerry/St.Kilda)
Colm Belgey (Laois)

Thomas Clarke wrote:A lot of the the top players on the Irish side no longer have any interest.

Well I'm glad Tohill's 18 man panel has put this theory to bed.

On the Irish side, the best goalkeeper (Stephen Cluxton), the best full-back (Kevin Reilly), the best corner-back (Eoin Cadogan), the best centre-back (Kevin McKernan), the best half-back (Emmett Bolton) and the best midfielder (Aidan Walsh) have all shown interest, and consequently made the final panel.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:A lot of the the top players on the Irish side no longer have any interest.

Well I'm glad Tohill's 18 man panel has put this theory to bed.

On the Irish side, the best goalkeeper (Stephen Cluxton), the best full-back (Kevin Reilly), the best corner-back (Eoin Cadogan), the best centre-back (Kevin McKernan), the best half-back (Emmett Bolton) and the best midfielder (Aidan Walsh) have all shown interest, and consequently made the final panel.

We obviously have different opinions on who are the best players in Ireland. I was thinking of people like Bernard & Alan Brogan, Colm Cooper, Declan O'Sullivan, Marc O'Se, Marty Clarke - the major stars of our game. If those guys don't want to play, then the stars of the GAA are not on display. If that is the case, then what is the point of this event?

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:A lot of the the top players on the Irish side no longer have any interest.

Well I'm glad Tohill's 18 man panel has put this theory to bed.

On the Irish side, the best goalkeeper (Stephen Cluxton), the best full-back (Kevin Reilly), the best corner-back (Eoin Cadogan), the best centre-back (Kevin McKernan), the best half-back (Emmett Bolton) and the best midfielder (Aidan Walsh) have all shown interest, and consequently made the final panel.

We obviously have different opinions on who are the best players in Ireland. I was thinking of people like Bernard & Alan Brogan, Colm Cooper, Declan O'Sullivan, Marc O'Se, Marty Clarke - the major stars of our game. If those guys don't want to play, then the stars of the GAA are not on display. If that is the case, then what is the point of this event?

The Brogans expressed an interest in the series but their quest to deliver a first Dublin SFC to the Navan Road took precedent I think. Marc O'Se is good but on current form he ain't better than Eoin Cadogan or Kevin Reilly. Cooper and O'Sullivan might have club commitments but they lack the physique to be competitive with the Australians.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:A lot of the the top players on the Irish side no longer have any interest.

Well I'm glad Tohill's 18 man panel has put this theory to bed.

On the Irish side, the best goalkeeper (Stephen Cluxton), the best full-back (Kevin Reilly), the best corner-back (Eoin Cadogan), the best centre-back (Kevin McKernan), the best half-back (Emmett Bolton) and the best midfielder (Aidan Walsh) have all shown interest, and consequently made the final panel.

We obviously have different opinions on who are the best players in Ireland. I was thinking of people like Bernard & Alan Brogan, Colm Cooper, Declan O'Sullivan, Marc O'Se, Marty Clarke - the major stars of our game. If those guys don't want to play, then the stars of the GAA are not on display. If that is the case, then what is the point of this event?

The Brogans expressed an interest in the series but their quest to deliver a first Dublin SFC to the Navan Road took precedent I think. Marc O'Se is good but on current form he ain't better than Eoin Cadogan or Kevin Reilly. Cooper and O'Sullivan might have club commitments but they lack the physique to be competitive with the Australians.

Cooper and O'Sullivan have much bigger physiques than Peter Canavan had, yet he was outstanding against Australia. And, even accepting your point, if the game is so far removed from gaelic football that Cooper doesn't count, then what are we showcasing? The point I am making is that this should be a showcase for stars - if it isn't, then what is the point of it? To have players fumbling around awkwardly in some obscure game that only happens twice a year? A game that take a test and a half before lads grasp the rules?

This used to be a 'who's who?' of gaelic football but, for most people, it has become a 'who's that?', as the quality of Irish squads weakens with each passing year. This was supposed to promote our game, and give the stars of the GAA and the AFL a chance to represent their country. If Colm Cooper and the top Aussies can't be bothered, then it is failing to fulfil this purpose. Kevin Reilly is not a star, and never will be. Same goes for Cadogan and Bolton. Good players, but hardly household names. The majority of the biggest names in gaelic football* will not be in Australia so, again, what is the point?

(* Cooper, the Brogans, O'Sullivan, Paul Galvin, the O'Ses, Sean Cavanagh, Philly Jordan, Conor Gormley, Eoin Bradley, Donnacha O'Connor, Daniel Goulding, Michael Meehan, Donie Shine.)

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:A lot of the the top players on the Irish side no longer have any interest.

Well I'm glad Tohill's 18 man panel has put this theory to bed.

On the Irish side, the best goalkeeper (Stephen Cluxton), the best full-back (Kevin Reilly), the best corner-back (Eoin Cadogan), the best centre-back (Kevin McKernan), the best half-back (Emmett Bolton) and the best midfielder (Aidan Walsh) have all shown interest, and consequently made the final panel.

We obviously have different opinions on who are the best players in Ireland. I was thinking of people like Bernard & Alan Brogan, Colm Cooper, Declan O'Sullivan, Marc O'Se, Marty Clarke - the major stars of our game. If those guys don't want to play, then the stars of the GAA are not on display. If that is the case, then what is the point of this event?

The Brogans expressed an interest in the series but their quest to deliver a first Dublin SFC to the Navan Road took precedent I think. Marc O'Se is good but on current form he ain't better than Eoin Cadogan or Kevin Reilly. Cooper and O'Sullivan might have club commitments but they lack the physique to be competitive with the Australians.

Cooper and O'Sullivan have much bigger physiques than Peter Canavan had, yet he was outstanding against Australia. And, even accepting your point, if the game is so far removed from gaelic football that Cooper doesn't count, then what are we showcasing? The point I am making is that this should be a showcase for stars - if it isn't, then what is the point of it? To have players fumbling around awkwardly in some obscure game that only happens twice a year? A game that take a test and a half before lads grasp the rules?

This used to be a 'who's who?' of gaelic football but, for most people, it has become a 'who's that?', as the quality of Irish squads weakens with each passing year. This was supposed to promote our game, and give the stars of the GAA and the AFL a chance to represent their country. If Colm Cooper and the top Aussies can't be bothered, then it is failing to fulfil this purpose. Kevin Reilly is not a star, and never will be. Same goes for Cadogan and Bolton. Good players, but hardly household names. The majority of the biggest names in gaelic football* will not be in Australia so, again, what is the point?

(* Cooper, the Brogans, O'Sullivan, Paul Galvin, the O'Ses, Sean Cavanagh, Philly Jordan, Conor Gormley, Eoin Bradley, Donnacha O'Connor, Daniel Goulding, Michael Meehan, Donie Shine.)

Four defenders quoted in the above list aged 31, 33, 31 and 31 respectively. They've had their go at Compromise Rules - now it's time for a new generation of backs to get their chance: Emmet Bolton, Kevin Reilly and Kevin McKernan for example.

The players like Eoin Bradley, Daniel Golding, Michael Meehan and Donie Shine are on a par with the forwards picked: Michael Murphy, Keiran Donaghy, Darren O'Sullivan, Stephen McDonnell! And you can't pick them all. Replace the former four with the latter four and we'd be here debating why they weren't included!

In fairness - in the last ten years, most team sports has seen a trend towards the more muscular player. Not only in Gaelic but AFL, hurling and soccer too! So I'd thread carefully with the comparison between Cooper and Canavan, compare them with the peers of their day, and not each other!

As for Kevin Reilly not being a star,

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote: As for Kevin Reilly not being a star,

I'd rate him a good footballer, and certainly among the top 10 full-backs in Ireland. On his day, you could maybe advance a case for him being in the top 5.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote: As for Kevin Reilly not being a star,

I'd rate him a good footballer, and certainly among the top 10 full-backs in Ireland. On his day, you could maybe advance a case for him being in the top 5.

Look Meath has seen them all: Paddy O'Brien, Jack Quinn, Mick Lyons, Darren Fay. Kevin Reilly is without doubt "up there" with the best.

10 full-backs better than Kevin Reilly.....not sure about that. I could certainly name a few that are worse: Rory O'Carroll (Dublin), Mick Foley (Kildare), Neil McGee (Donegal), Michael Shields (Cork), Justin McMahon (Tyrone), Ger Cafferky (Mayo), Finian Hanley (Galway).....who else would you consider in a best full-back debate?

We only seem to have Bolton picked. What happened to O'Callaghan and Tomas O'Connor? Anyone know?

I saw Kevin Reilly twice this year and the rest of his defence is so poor it makes him look good. He is like the young lad putting his finger in the dyke. His over carrying out of defence cost Meath more than one score this year. Average or a little better, nothing more.

Podger wrote:I saw Kevin Reilly twice this year and the rest of his defence is so poor it makes him look good. He is like the young lad putting his finger in the dyke. His over carrying out of defence cost Meath more than one score this year. Average or a little better, nothing more.

What is this lad on about: "the rest of his defence is so poor"? A well known user of this forum is on record as saying the Meath defence is the best he seen all year. Did you not see Gary O'Brien or Shane McAnarney or Ciaran Lenehan in either of those games? Reilly is the best FB in Ireland. No doubt about that.

Except when Tomas outfielded him in Navan and he had to drag him down for a penalty. Average. He couldn't handle O'Connor at all.

Podger wrote:Except when Tomas outfielded him in Navan and he had to drag him down for a penalty. Average. He couldn't handle O'Connor at all.

Have a look again. Tomas reversed into Brendan Murphy, the Meath goalie, and fell over. It was never a penalty.