Kerry and Mayo players get final chance to impress

IRELAND’S Kerry and Mayo contingent face a near-impossible task in adapting to the International Rules game before Sunday week’s first test against Australia, according to selector John Tobin.

Four players from Kerry’s All-Ireland-winning squad, as well as four from beaten finalists Mayo, have only been free to link up with Pete McGrath’s panel in the last week and they will be given final chances to impress today and tomorrow when the Irish play two challenge games among themselves at Croke Park.

“It is a problem. It’s difficult for lads to be coming in at this late stage. A few of the lads, like James Nallen and Tomas Ó Sé have experience of the game before, but other lads are completely raw at the International Rules game,” said Tobin yesterday.