Pete's high-profile omissions

SETANTA Ó'hAilpín and Kieran McGeeney have been omitted from the provisional panel named by Irish manager Pete McGrath to take on Australia in the International Series down under next month.

The former Down manager unveiled a preliminary selection of 43 players in Croke Park yesterday with 10 from Kerry, seven from Tyrone and five from Armagh included.

Though the breakdown of those numbers alone will be the cause for some debate, it's the decisions to omit the Carlton trainee and Armagh captain which will raise most eyebrows.