Power: enthusiasm got the better of me at times

YOU couldn’t describe it as a second coming, but for Kerry great Ger Power the opening test in the Coca-Cola International Rules Series last Sunday marked something of an emotional return to Croke Park.

One of the select group of Kerry players to win eight All-Ireland medals, he accepted Austin Stacks club-mate John O'Keeffe's invite to act as a 'runner' for the Irish team.

Officially, the runner's duty is to go on to the field to pass on instructions from the management.

Power admits his enthusiasm got the better of him at times when he hung around a bit longer than he should have done to offer advice.

"I loved it,'' Power said yesterday, describing his experience. "It was 16 years since I ran out on to Croke Park. It was a bit emotional, but it was great to be there."

He has been working with the squad since the August 10 O'Keeffe approached him last December and it got him back into training.

He wasn't aware that he was exceeding his time on the field until the Australians complained.

"The rules were explained to me afterwards. When you go onto the pitch you do so to make changes. You can't actually go and coach although I don't see that there is much difference between the two.

"If a fellow is to come off or maybe move to a different position you are meant to go in and tell him that. Maybe I was telling fellows too much, by advising them to watch this fellow and that fellow.''

Power admitted he didn't find the game 'that physical,' even though he accepts that side of the game is second nature to Australian Rules players. "The rules should be spelled out to the teams before the game, or perhaps they should be brought together,'' he said.

Meanwhile, former Irish manager Brian McEniff rated Ireland's display in the opening half of the first Test 'as good as any' witnessed in the series to date. "The only trouble was that in doing so they expended a lot of energy, which became a problem when the Australians came back in the third quarter.

"I'd still give the Irish team a very good chance of winning next Sunday, except that they will have to do better at converting goal-chances.