Injury blow rules out captain Joyce for Aussie encounter

THE Irish management for the International Rules Series with Australia in October will this weekend consider a replacement for team captain Padraic Joyce who has been ruled out by a recurring groin injury.

Manager Pete McGrath agreed that the loss of the Galway star was a double blow in terms of his ability and his leadership qualities. He agreed that it also was a major blow to the player himself.

“He was thrilled when he was appointed captain,” said McGrath yesterday, who revealed that Joyce had aggravated the injury in training in Dublin last weekend. “This had been bothering him on an on-going basis and he exacerbated it very badly last Friday night.”