Intriguing reports on Thursday suggested that the International Rules series between Ireland and Australia may be about to make a long-awaited return.
The last time the series was held was in 2017, with Australia winning both tests down under.
A multitude of issues have seen the series on a near-decade-long hiatus since, though whispers in recent months have suggested an eagerness among players for International Rules football to return.
It appears as though they may get their wish, judging by reports from earlier this week.
The Irish Independent reported on Friday that the GAA have "green lit" the return of the International Rules series, with potential for a series as soon as October in Croke Park. It would be the first test on Irish soil since 2015.
A meeting between AFL officials and a GAA delegation, including president Jarlath Burns, reportedly took place this week. Discussions were reportedly positive, and GAA officials are said to be hopeful that the new split season layout will make the series' return more plausible.
It is for that exact reason, however, that Connacht GAA CEO John Prenty is unenthused by the seemingly imminent resurgence of International Rules football.
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Connacht GAA chief unhappy with inconsistencies, as International Rules return close
21 November 2015; Eoin Cadogan, Ireland, in action against Hayden Ballantyne, Australia. EirGrid International Rules Test 2015, Ireland v Australia. Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
Connacht chief executive John Prenty spoke at the launch of the province's football championship on Friday.
The subject of International Rules football was raised to Prenty, who suggested there was a degree of hypocrisy to recent developments from the GAA.
Prenty said that county and provincial boards had been sold a "dummy" in agreeing to get rid of pre-season competitions ahead of the 2025 season.
The Connacht chief said that he could not fathom how the GAA would cancel pre-season tournaments in the interests of player welfare before entering discussions for the return of an uber-physical International Rules series.
It makes no difference (where the International Rules is staged), some poor hoor is going to get battered no matter when.
How player welfare can be a problem in the FBD League, which is a pre-season competition for younger fellas to get an opportunity to play; and you get your best players in the middle of the club championship getting battered by a crowd of professionals from Australia…I just find it hard to square that circle.
Historically, International Rules series have been defined by aggressive physical clashes between the sides, and Prenty's point on player welfare is certainly intriguing.
The most likely window in which the International Rules revival would take place would appear to be late October, in the period where the Railway Cup revival took place last year.
The buy-in from inter-county players for that inter-provincial series would suggest that there will be no issues getting availability from them should the series against Australia come to fruition.
However, it may not be the most popular move with those who have had to sacrifice competitions with recent developments in the GAA.
