12 counties, nine All-Stars and two Cavanmen on the standby list for the Ireland International Rules squad. This truly is a wonderful day to be Irish.

1 Niall Morgan (Tyrone)

2 Colm Begley (Laois)

3 Gary Brennan (Clare)

4 Bernard Brogan (Dublin) CAPT.

5 Eoin Cadogan (Cork)

9 Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone)

10 Eoin Doyle (Kildare)

11 Peter Harte (Tyrone)

13 Darren Hughes (Monaghan)

15 Lee Keegan (Mayo) VICE CAPT.

17 Paul Kerrigan (Cork)

19 Jack McCaffrey (Dublin)

20 Ciarán McDonald (Tipperary)

22 Philip McMahon (Dublin)

23 Conor McManus (Monaghan)

25 Rory O'Carroll (Dublin)

26 John O'Loughlin (Laois)

28 Aidan O'Shea (Mayo)

29 Michael Quinn (Longford)

31 Donnchadh Walsh (Kerry)

33 Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin)

34 Paul Cribbin (Kildare)

35 Paddy Mc Brearty (Donegal)

STAND BY PLAYERS:

16 Paddy O'Rourke (Meath)

6 Killian Clarke (Cavan)

7 Ray Connellan (Westmeath)

14 Kieran Hughes (Monaghan)

21 Gearoid McKiernan (Cavan)

24 Dessie Mone (Monaghan)

70 players have been involved in trials over the last ten weeks with the panel now being whittled down to 31. Manager Joe Kernan told media:


We’ve been delighted with the response and the hard work put in by players from all over the country in the last eight weeks in a bid to represent Ireland. Unfortunately injuries and club commitments have ruled some players out, but I am happy that we have still managed to assemble a very strong squad and it was a difficult job to reduce numbers down to the squad and the standby list.

The Australian squad looks very strong so the Irish team will have their work cut out if they're to avenge the defeat down under.