The Ireland squad that will travel to Australia for the International Rules series will be devoid of any representative from the All Ireland champions Dublin.
Bernard Brogan captained the Ireland squad for the last series in 2015, Philly McMahon, Jack McCaffrey, Rory O’Carroll and Diarmuid Connolly also lined out for their country.
This time around no Dublin player will travel, meaning for the first time ever the All Ireland champions will not be represented on the Ireland squad.
Selector Dermot Earley doesn’t feel the lack of Dubs will take away from the prestige of the trip:
"Not at all," Earley said when asked if the Dubs’ snub takes away from the tour.
"I don’t think so. It’s an Irish squad and it should represent the best players in the country and we’ve gone right around all the counties.
"We spent the summer looking at all games, so we’ve strong representation from the top teams but we’ve good representation from some of the lesser known."
Explaining the rationale behind Dublin players deciding not to make themselves available for the trip Earley said:
"We’ve asked a lot of the Dublin squad to come in but because of injuries, club commitments, guys just wanting to take a break, I don’t think there will be any Dublin representation on this.
"But that’s for Joe to announce, it’s not for me to say. Look, we’ve had great engagement and I think you do have to understand as well that after a long year guys do sometimes need a break and this may not suit them. That’s understandable."
Dublin midfielder Brian Fenton had been training with the squad, but decided not to travel. In an interview with 98FM’s Now That’s What I Call Sport, the Raheny man explained his decision:“I was chatting to Joe Kernan, it’s an amazing accolade and an honour even to be asked, unfortunately I won’t be playing this year and going to Australia.
“I recently just started a new job, I was a physio in Beaumont Hospital and I’ve moved into the avenue of medical devices and it’s really exciting and technology and all that sort of stuff coming into hospitals.
“I’ve just started the new job, unfortunately three weeks off to go to Australia at this time of year just doesn’t suit with the new job and training and everything like that.
“I was asked by Joe, he asked me to a couple of sessions to meet the lads and make up the numbers, and it’s a huge honour to wear an Ireland jersey that would just be incredible.
“I was chatting to Joe I was very apologetic that I couldn’t commit to the trip, I’m only 24-years-old hopefully it might come around again if I stay fit and healthy.
“Unfortunately I’m going to have let this year pass me by”.
