Injuries rule out Cluxton and Brogan for International Rules

Some big names will be missing from the Ireland squad when they take on Australia in the 2013 International Rules series later this month in Cavan and Dublin.

Dublin's Footballer of the Year nominees Stephen Cluxton and Michael Darragh Macauley are unavailable for the series along with their All-Ireland winning team-mates Bernard Brogan and Cian O'Sullivan.

Club commitments rule out Kerry star Colm Cooper's participation, while it looks like Laois native Zach Tuohy will be the only Australian-based player to line up for Ireland in the coming weeks.

Goalkeeper Cluxton captained Ireland to a landslide 130-65 victory in the 2011 series Down Under, with Tuohy also playing his part outfield two years ago alongside the Irish player of the series Tadhg Kennelly, Tommy Walsh and Pearce Hanley, who will all be absent from the 2013 clashes.

But Ireland manager Paul Earley will at least be able to call on a number of players who contested the recent All-Ireland SFC final.

Former Aussie Rules prospect Ciarán Kilkenny, James McCarthy, Paul Flynn and Young Footballer of the Year nominee Jack McCaffrey head up the Dublin representation, with powerhouse midfielder Aidan O'Shea leading a four-strong Mayo contingent which includes Footballer of the Year nominee Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle and Kevin McLoughlin.

Earley is currently working with a 40-man panel which will be shaved down to 30 players following this weekend, with a final 23-strong squad to be selected after a trial match in Cavan.

Speaking about the absentees and those currently training with the panel, the Irish boss said: "Stephen (Cluxton) has ruled himself out. This year he just isn't able to make the commitment. Bernard (Brogan) spoke to me a few weeks ago as well and he's been carrying the knocks during the season. In his case, he needs a month off.

"Cian O'Sullivan was a guy who was very keen but he's got an injury at the moment, Michael Darragh MacAuley as well.

"To be fair to Colm (Cooper), we had a couple of conversations and he thought long and hard about it. He's decided his club (Dr. Crokes) is very important and they have ambitions to go a long way (in the Championship).

"I think he looked at the schedule of their games and they coincided with a couple of the Tests as well so on that basis he wasn't able to make the commitment."

Of Ireland's Australian-based contingent, Earley added: "Zach is coming home at the weekend. He'll be joining us but he's the only one.

"There's a lot of Australian-based players unavailable. Tommy Walsh has been injured, Marty Clarke is out of action and Pearse Hanley is not available this year."

However, the former Roscommon star has been encouraged by the commitment shown by the players in training ahead of the October 19 opener at Kingspan Breffni Park - particularly those from Mayo, the beaten All-Ireland finalists.

"Their response has been great. We had Aidan O'Shea, Kevin McLoughlin, Colm Boyle and Lee Keegan at the weekend and they trained again on Wednesday night in Croke Park," revealed Earley.