McDonald and Coulter given Rules call-up

INTERNATIONAL Rules manager John O’Keeffe has confirmed the names of 11 players who will definitely be part of the panel for next month's two-Test series in Australia.

There are two debutants, Down forward Brendan Coulter and Laois star Brian ‘Beano’ McDonald who join the Irish squad after impressive summers for their counties.

The team will be captained by Kerry’s Seamus Moynihan as Ireland attempt to win back the series won by the Australians in Ireland last year.

There are still a number of players in contention for the 16 remaining places on the tour and the final panel will be confirmed in the week following the All-Ireland football final.

The first Test is at the Subiaco Oval, Perth, on Friday, October 24 and the 43,000 capacity stadium is already sold out. The second Test will be in the MCG in Melbourne on Friday, October 31 and another large crowd is expected in the 80,000-seater stadium.

Meanwhile, All-Ireland club champions Nemo Rangers of Cork are amongst the favourites to win the O'Neills Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football 7-a-side, details of which were announced yesterday.

Nemo are pitted against Omagh St Endas of Tyrone, Leinster club aristocrats Eire Og from Carlow and Mayo's Knockmore in Group One. Billy Morgan’s side are amongst the more fancied teams for this year's coveted title along with Bellaghy (Derry), Na Fianna (Dublin), Castlewellan and Bryansford (Down), Corofin (Galway) and Meath champions Dunshaughlin.

The event begins at 11am on September 27, at four grounds in the Stillorgan area - Clonkeen College, Saint Benildus College, Glenalbyn and Silver Park. The quarter-finals, semis and final take place in Glenalbyn from 3pm with the final at 6pm. TG4 are covering the event with extensive highlights to be shown on Monday evening. See Digest for details

The 11 named on the Irish International Rules squad: S Moynihan (Kerry), C McManus (Offaly), G Canty, A Lynch (Cork), T Giles (Meath), B Coulter (Down), B McDonald, (Laois), S M Lockhart (Derry), D Dolan (Westmeath), P Christie (Dublin), T Kennelly (Kerry & Sydney Swans).