Paul Earley has named the 25 man panel he's taking down to Australia and what a democratic looking outfit it is. No fewer than fifteen counties are included in this year's panel.
Michael Murphy has been handed the captaincy again, with Aidan Walsh being named vice-captain. Mayo have the most names for four players picked plus their Brisbane Lions exile Pearse Hanley.
Last year's 'contest' was a turkey shoot with Ireland testing out the capabilities of the Croke Park scoreboard, beating Australia 116-37 at headquarters and winning by an aggregate score of 101 points.
It is understood that the Australians, who have been attacked in the past for both playing too aggressively and not playing with any aggression at all, have picked a stronger team this year.
Michael Murphy (Donegal, captain), Aidan Walsh (Cork, vice-captain) Colm Begley (Laois), Colm Boyle (Mayo), Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone), Cathal Cregg (Roscommon), Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone), Finian Hanley (Galway), Pearse Hanley (Brisbane Lions), Darren Hughes (Monaghan), Lee Keegan (Mayo), James McCarthy (Dublin), Ciaran McDonald (Tipperary), Neil McGee (Donegal), Chrissy McKaigue (Derry), Kevin McKernan (Down), Kevin McLoughlin (Mayo), Conor McManus (Monaghan), David Moran (Kerry), Niall Morgan (Tyrone), Ross Munnelly (Laois), , Colm O’Neill (Cork), Pádraig O’Neill (Kildare), Paddy O’Rourke (Meath), Aidan O’Shea (Mayo)
