O’Dwyer kept waiting on rules series appointment

MICK O’DWYER will have a little longer to find out if he will realise his ambition of managing the Irish team in the next International Rules Series against Australia.

GAA president Sean Kelly disclosed yesterday that he didn't expect an announcement to be made for another month or so. Mr Kelly said discussions had already taken place, but inferred that a decision has yet to be made. "The digging has been done, but nothing has been unearthed," he said.

It's well known that O'Dwyer would love the job. He said so in this newspaper a few weeks ago and expressed a similar wish back in 1990 when the position came up for grabs.

On that occasion Sean Kelly (then Kerry County Board Chairman) made plea for O'Dwyer to be appointed.

He was first overlooked in 1986, when the first away series was played in Australia. On that occasion, the position was given to Kevin Heffernan then unattached, while Micko was still Kerry manager. When the Australians came to Ireland the following year, Eugene McGee was appointed manager, with Sean McCague as his assistant. And, the pair were re-appointed when the next series took place (to Australia) in 1990.

Asked if he had any preference, Mr Kelly replied: "I'm not sure if it's my call, but normally what happens is that the Uachtaran discusses it, makes approaches and comes back to the Management Committee with a recommendation. I have seen the series grow and grow. It's being taken far more seriously now by the Australians and by ourselves and by the public.

"The fact that a lot of our top managers are involved in managing county teams and could be involved right up to the end of September, or if there was a replay up to the end of October, is something we have to think about."

Organisers of tomorrow's exhibition Vodafone Allstars hurling game are hopeful of an attendance of up to 2,000, with local media supportive of the venture. Dubliner John Ralton, chairman of the local club pointed out that they had a lot of difficulty in coming up with a suitable ground because any of the soccer pitches laid 'back-to-back' had irrigation troughs between them.

"We're playing the game in Scottsdale Community College, but it's actually on the Pima Maricopa (Indian) Reservation, so all the usual reservation laws and rules will apply. That means there will be no alcohol anywhere on the ground."