Lacey likely to be the odd man out for first Test
The Donegal man is the stand-by player after being brought out to Australia as a precaution for Laois’ Colm Begley, who would have remained in Dublin had his club, Parnells, won their county championship game last weekend.
Lacey could yet feature in the match-day squad if either Meath’s Kevin Reilly or Darren Hughes of Monaghan don’t overcome their respective ankle and knee injuries they picked up at training on Tuesday evening.
However, despite both sitting out a session in the Whitten Oval yesterday morning, manager Anthony Tohill believes the pair will be fit to play on Friday.
Referees Maurice Deegan (Laois) and David Coldrick (Meath) are the GAA-nominated match officials with one likely to be involved in each of the tests.
Meanwhile, tomorrow’s game will be the first International Rules test to be played under a roof.
Poor weather is being forecasted for tomorrow evening in Melbourne but the roof will be closed regardless.
IRELAND: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin — captain/goalkeeper), Ciaran McKeever (Armagh — vice captain), Pearce Hanley (Brisbane Lions), Eoin Cadogan (Cork), Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Leighton Glynn (Wicklow), Finian Hanley (Galway), Emmet Bolton (Kildare), Darren Hughes (Monaghan), Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney Swans), Steven McDonnell (Armagh), Kevin McKernan (Down), Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Neil McGee (Donegal), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Kevin Reilly (Meath), Aidan Walsh (Cork), Zach Tuohy (Carlton), Colm Begley (Laois), Brendan Murphy (Carlow), Eamon Callaghan (Kildare), Tommy Walsh (Sydney Swans), Patrick Kelly (Cork). Stand-by: Karl Lacey (Donegal)
AUSTRALIA: Brad Green (Melbourne — captain); James Kelly (Geelong Cats — vice-captain); Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne — vice-captain); Richard Douglas (Adelaide Crows), James Frawley (Melbourne), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Shaun Grigg (Richmond), Jake King (Richmond), Ben McGlynn (Sydney Swans), Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast Suns), Stephen Milne (St Kilda), Angus Monfries (Essendon), Robin Nahas (Richmond), Mark Nicoski (West Coast), Mitch Robinson (Carlton), Liam Shiels (Hawthorn), Zac Smith (Gold Coast Suns), Matthew Suckling (Hawthorn), Colin Sylvia (Melbourne), Jack Trengove (Melbourne), Bernie Vince (Adelaide Crows), Callan Ward (GWS Giants), David Wojcinski (Geelong Cats), Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs).
