Ireland to play by the same Rules

THE key to beating Australia in the upcoming International Rules series will be to maximise Gaelic football skills and simply put the ball over the bar at every available opportunity!

In that regard, Pete McGrath, who will again manage the Coca-Cola sponsored Irish team, yesterday admitted the approach will be the same as it was in Croke Park last year, when they recorded a 50-points aggregate victory.

Sean Cavanagh and Brian McGuigan are the only members of the seven-strong Tyrone contingnent with previous experience. Down goalkeeper Mickey McVeigh is another newcomer, along with Galway's Micheal Meehan, Laois forward Ross Munnelly and Ronan Clarke, the sole player from Armagh.

McGrath said the main emphasis in training had been on shooting, based on the acceptance this is the real strength of their own game.

"The message the players will be getting is that you only go for a six-pointer (goal) if it's a certainty. The bread and butter of success the life-blood will be three-pointers,'' he said.

Saying he had found it a humbling experience to have to omit elite players and "traumatic" to have to tell them they were not travelling, McGrath said the difference between some selections had been "paper-thin." One player in this category was Derry's Paddy Bradley, the second-highest scorer in this year's championship.

Asked about his non-selection, the Irish manager explained they had tried to come up with the right balance in the forward line between people who would be regarded as half-forwards and people who would be regarded as "strikers" or inside9forwards.

"One could look at the players who are there and make a valid case for players who are not there,'' he said.

Tadhg Kennelly's withdrawal had come "suddenly," he said, and was a big disappointment.

"Earlier in the week he was in the squad and he was keen. But he will be with us at next weekend's training sessions to 'inform and educate' and give us whatever information he can in relation to what faces us in Australia."

Regarding the number of players from the All-Ireland champions, McGrath said: "Seven from Tyrone might seem an awful lot, but when you consider the quality of football they have been playing all year and how fresh they would appear to be, I think their selection was justified.''

McGrath also outlined his reasons for picking Colm Cooper and Cork hurling captain Seán Óg Ó hAilpín.

"At the final trial before the first test 12 months ago, he (Cooper) showed very little appetite for the game and looked very tired physically and mentally. It was our opinion that he would not have been an asset.

"This year in my view he looks a stronger player physically and he was much more positive in relation to what he was saying about taking part.

"He was here last Saturday morning, he looked fresh and very keen. No one would ever doubt his marvellous talent and on those grounds he has been included.

"Seán Óg is a unique individual in many ways, a unique talent. To watch him in the trial, his reading of the game, his strength and his passing he just looked completely at the same level as all the other guys who are playing inter-county football this year. He's a one-off to be honest, he could probably get his place on the Irish basketball team if he wanted.''

McGrath revealed that Laois star Ross Munnelly had consulted a rugby coach in an effort to brush up on his tackling.

Describing him as "an all-action" player, he said that for someone who was comparatively small, he considered Munnelly exceptionally courageous and said the Laois man would operate "in the middle half" of the field.

Saying that the next stage now will be for the players to "get into the mindset of the game," the sessions before the party leaves on October 15 will be "very serious and very focused."

Based on what happened last year, McGrath is expecting a backlash from the Australians.

"If they had done it to us, what would we be giving them? I don't think they will be missing us (in tackles) and hitting the walls. They'll be coming with all guns blazing.

"They have appointed a guy who is with an AFL team and the word is he is going to go for a smaller, more agile player to deal with our ability.

"All I'm concerned is about people on this side of the table. The thing is to get our own house in order and to get people geared for a very formidable challenge. But I think it's a wonderful challenge for people who want to test themselves. That is what this series is about.''

GAA President Sean Kelly, accompanied at the press conference by Coca-Cola's Public Affairs and Cumminications Manager Mo Durkan, was confident Ireland would be good enough to retain the Cormac McAnallen trophy.

And, in the face of continuing criticism of the game most recently from Tyrone manager Mickey Harte Mr Kelly pointed out that the combined attendance of 105,000 in Croke Park last year testified to its popularity.

The first test in Perth has already sold out.