Ladies’ Rules series unlikely to be repeated

JARLATH BURNS, manager of the Ladies International Rules squad that faces Australia next week, does not expect the series to be repeated next year.

The historic first Test will be played at Cavan’s Breffni Park on Tuesday with the second down for decision the following Saturday at Parnell Park.

The series owes its conception to TG4 who wanted to come up with an eye-catching idea to mark it’s 10th anniversary but Burns believes a repeat next year “would be optimistic”.

“From our meeting (Monday) night with the AFL people, they were describing all the difficulties they had even coming over,” he explained.

“Whether or not they will be able to fund us or facilitate us over there is another thing. It would seem to be the next, natural step though. It would be lovely to do it every year like the men’s”.

Supporters of the men’s game have pointed to the series’ potential for promoting the GAA and its games in a foreign market.

Burns believes the possibilities with the Ladies version are far greater.

“I think the men’s sporting market is largely sewn up by now,” said the former Armagh player. “I think (women’s sports) are at the stage now that all men’s sports were at in the 1880s when all of the major sports became organised.

“Women’s sport in the early 2000s are now at the same stage. We are at a very exciting time now on a European and worldwide level for the Ladies’ game because there is a genuine growth in it’s development.”

Australia is a prime example of a territory where the GAA could increase its market share. Six of the touring squad that recently arrived in Ireland have been chosen from primarily GAA backgrounds.

Other unconventional avenues have been explored by the Australian management. Queensland’s Joanne Butler was goalkeeper with the national soccer team for four years while Sarah Hammond has represented Australia at handball in one Olympics and two World Championships.

The bulk of the squad has been drawn from Victoria, the AFL’s traditional stronghold but Burns is in no way surprised by his opponents’ impressive and diverse sporting pedigree.

“That’s a bit like our own girls. We have Angela Walsh who was playing the camogie interpros last Saturday and Julliet Murphy was playing basketball as well.”

Like the men, the teams will use the round ball. Unlike the men, there will be no contact allowed, a significant concession for the Aussies for whom the tackle is every bit as central to their game as it is to their male counterparts.

The other major change will see no marks being awarded in between the two 45s in order to accelerate the flow of the game and prevent stoppages.

IRELAND SQUAD: B O’Donnell, A O’Donnell, C O’Hanlon, C Marley (Armagh), B Sheridan (Cavan), A Walsh, N Kelly, J Murphy, R Buckley (Cork), M Downey (Down), C O’Connor, S Aherne (Dublin), A Daly, A Marie McDonagh, U Carroll, P Gleeson (Galway), G Ni Flathartha, S O’Connor (Kerry), B Leahy (Kildare), L Muckian, P Fogarty (Laois), D O’Brien (Limerick) C Staunton, C Heffernan (Mayo), S Dooley, J Shields, G Doherty, M Sheridan (Meath), M Morrissey (Tipperary), M O’Donnell (Waterford).