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The 2008 International Rules Series: Ireland v Australia starts this weekend

First Test – Subiaco Oval, Perth, Friday October 24
Second Test – MCG, Melbourne, Friday October 31

FIVE of the Irish International Rules team have been awarded with the highest honour in Gaelic football, receiving All-Stars before their departure to Australia.

Team captain Sean Cavanagh, Kerry’s Kieran Donaghy, Westmeath’s John Keane, and Tyrone’s Enda McGinley and Justin McMahon all received the award on Friday night.

the rules explained by kicktokick.net here

Cavanagh, who won All-Ireland honours with his county Tyrone in September, capped off his season with the Player of the Year award. It was the half-forward’s fourth All-Star award, having also been named in the team of the year three years running from 2003 to 2005.

The 2008 Young Player of the Year was County Kerry’s Tommy Walsh. Walsh was named in the International Rules squad but had to pull out of the trip due to club commitments.

For full-forward Donaghy and full-back Keane it was a second All-Star, having previously been named in 2006 and 2004 respectively. Midfielder McGinley and full-back McMahon added their first All-Star to their football CV.

And the the full list of the Irish squad;

Tyrone, Kerry, Cork and Armagh supply over half of the 27-man Ireland squad named today by Sean Boylan to travel to Australia for this month’s International Rules Series.

Irish International Rules squad: Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone), Graham Canty (Cork), David Gallagher (Meath), Colm Begley ( Brisbane Lions/Laois), Paddy Bradley (Derry), Bernard Brogan (Dublin), Benny Coulter (Down), Bryan Cullen (Dublin), Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Leighton Glynn (Wicklow), Finian Hanley (Galway), John Keane (Westmeath), Aaron Kernan (Armagh), Ciarán Lyng (Wexford), Steven McDonnell (Armagh), Enda McGinley (Tyrone), Ciarán McKeever (Armagh), Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Justin McMahon (Tyrone), Michael Meehan (Galway), John Miskella (Cork), Aidan O’Mahony (Kerry), Pearse O’Neill (Cork), Tom Parsons (Mayo), Kevin Reilly (Meath), Tommy Walsh (Kerry), Killian Young (Kerry).

Standby: Aidan Carr (Down), Ronan Clarke (Armagh), Paul Finlay (Monaghan), Conor Gormley (Tyrone), Kevin McCloy (Derry), Martin McGrath (Fermanagh).

The county break-up is: Tyrone (4), Kerry (4), Cork (3), Armagh (3), Galway (2), Dublin (2), Meath (2), Down (1), Derry (1), Laois (1), Mayo (1), Wexford (1), Westmeath (1), Wicklow (1).

Australian Squad

Nathan Bock (Adelaide), Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs), Jared Brennan (Brisbane Lions), Campbell Brown (Hawthorn), Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Matt Campbell (North Melbourne), Ryan Crowley (Fremantle), Michael Firrito (North Melbourne), Nathan Foley (Richmond), Brent Harvey (North Melbourne), Roger Hayden (Fremantle), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide), Marc Murphy (Carlton), Michael Osbourne (Hawthorn), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Drew Petrie (North Melbourne), David Rodan (Port Adelaide), Max Rooke (Geelong), Brad Sewell (Hawthorn), Kade Simpson (Carlton), Adam Selwood (West Coast), Dale Thomas (Collingwood), Scott Thompson (Adelaide), Daniel Wells (North Melbourne).

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Mr Seán Boylan, Team Manager of the 2008 Coca Cola Ireland International Rules team. Back room team;

• Tour Manager:                  Seán Walsh                          
• Assistant Tour Manager:  Tommy Kilcoyne
• Selectors:                         Anthony Tohill, Eoin Liston, Hugh Kenny
• Runner:                            Seán Marty Lockhart
• Doctor:                             Dr Owen Clarke
• Physiotherapist:                Frank Foley
• Masseur:                           Martin Regan
• Kit Manager:                     Owen Lynch

The referee’s for the Test games will be Pat Mc Eneaney (Monaghan) and Australia’s Steve Mc Burney. Ireland’s standby by referee and linesman will be David Coldrick while Brett Rosebury will perform these roles on behalf of the Australians. Ireland’s umpires on the tour will be Gearóid Ó Conámha and John Bannon.

The video match referee for the Series has been confirmed as Ian Curlewis of South Africa.