Sean Óg at centre of International Rules controversy

Armagh boss Joe Kernan today blasted Irish Aussie Rules boss Peter McGrath for selecting Cork’s Séan Óg Ó hAilpín ahead of his own player, Kieran McGeeney, for the forthcoming series against the Australians.

“More luck to Séan Óg, he’s a fine athlete,” Kernan told the Evening Echo.

“But he hasn’t played inter-county football for something like four years.

“Calling him up now, even for a trial, is a contradiction of the reason given for leaving Kieran McGeeney out of the squad in the first place.

“In his case he had not played enough football this season. To me that’s a contradiction.”

McGrath defended the decision on the basis the management felt he could have a contribution to make to the series.

“He is a fit man and I’m sure we’d all agree he could turn his skills to any game.

“We invited him up to last weekend’s session with no guarantees of anything.

“He had nothing to lose and we had nothing to lose.

“I’d rather give him a chance than to be left wondering if he could have made a contribution after the series.

“I have to say Séan Óg played well in that game. Remember this is only a provisional panel which will be cut on the weekend of the first test.

“We will have no qualms about selecting him because he did not wilfully opt out of playing football for Cork.

“If he had a choice he would be playing but the hurling manager wanted total commitment.

“Séan Óg had to make a choice and he chose hurling.”