Garda probe into death threat claims by Aussie captain

GARDAÍ are investigating claims that Australian captain James Hird received a number of phoned death threats the night before last Sunday's first International Rules test against Ireland.

Five messages were left on the Essendon player's hotel room telephone while another member of the tourists' squad also received abusive phone calls in Galway during the week.

The Australians were eager to play down the incidents in the lead up to tomorrow's second test as they attempt to reverse a 36-point deficit.

"He called me all sorts of stuff and said I would be lucky to walk off Croke Park without a bullet in my head," Hird revealed.

"I think it's just someone being stupid. I don't want to put too much emphasis on it. It didn't worry us and nothing came of it. I'm sure it was just someone getting a little bit excited."

Irish manager Pete McGrath and his captain Padraig Joyce described the incidents as 'deplorable' while Aussie coach Gary Lyon followed his captain's lead in brushing off the entire affair.

"It's not a reflection on anyone else either. We've got the same ... 'peanuts' back home. So they're everywhere. Thankfully, they're a very, very small minority. A mindless, senseless, ignorant minority."

In reality, the Australians already have no lack of motivational tools. During the week in Galway, the AFL's representatives were jeered by a group of schoolchildren, while the desire to avoid similar treatment back home should ensure a much more competitive performance tomorrow.

"We're not spineless," said a softly-spoken but determined Hird yesterday.

"It's wrong because we're not. It's absolute rubbish. I know the people on this team. I know how they've played the last five or ten years. The people who have written that have made it very hard for the people we're going to be playing against next week. My head is on the game anyway, not on the people who have no idea what goes on and no idea about the characters I play football with.

"We haven't come here to have a good time, we've come here to win."

Lyon insists that winning the game rather than the series is the priority tomorrow, a sentiment echoed by his counterpart Pete McGrath.

"Winning the game on Sunday is now of paramount importance," said McGrath. "Last Sunday is gone. It's in the past. We beat that team last Sunday and now we're setting ourselves the goal of beating them again this Sunday. Not to do so on Sunday would be very disappointing.

"The higher you climb the further you can fall and we played very well last Sunday, but I think the jury is still out. The final verdict will be delivered here on Sunday."

Irish skipper Padraig Joyce believes the team is still capable of more.

"We can play better, because in the third quarter the last day we missed three or four open goal chances," said the Irish captain.

"There's plenty of room for improvement."