FOLLOWING the announcement the International Rules series is to be deferred until 2017, former Fermanagh midfielder Marty McGath has revealed mixed feelings about the continued place of the hybrid game.
A two-game series has been agreed between the GAA and the AFL for Australia in 2017. In addition, the associations have committed to a further two-game series in Ireland, as well as exploring the adaptation of the game for an exhibition series in the United States in the future.
GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail said: "It was not possible to organise a two-game series in Australia this year and, for that reason, we have decided to take a long-term view of the series and press pause for 2016.
"The success of the last two series has been based on the ability of both teams to attract the finest talent to their ranks, making for close, competitive and entertaining games. The aim of the series continuing in this vein is shared by both organisations and we believe these aspirations are best served by the staging of two games in a given year.
“We have committed to three series for the moment, beginning in Australia in 2017, with the timing for the Irish and US events to be confirmed later in the year as to whether they should take place in consecutive years, every second year or some other combination."
Former Allstar McGrath, who played in two series, acknowledged that he certainly enjoyed his trip Down Under and feels if it is to have a future, it must be over two games.
"I enjoyed my time playing in it," said McGrath.
"I suppose I particularly enjoyed my time in Australia and it was a two-game series then, which made it more or less a three-week trip. It was enjoyable just to see the professional element of it. I know this last while it has been a one game series. I feel the one game series didn't work as such anyway. I felt it was over very quickly - it would be better with two.
"The success of it is whether the most talented players are available to go to it. I don't think that's ever going to be the case any more. Counties are not going to let players go. If there's operations to be done - all players now are trying to put them off until the winter and they'll not release their players to play.
"With the way the game has gone now, the way it has got so serious or the professional element [of it], managers are judged on results and they want to have the best players available to them."
That said, McGrath still regards it to have been an honour to have represented his country and feels that it would be a shame to deny players, particularly those from smaller counties, the chance to play for Ireland.
"It's the one opportunity for the smaller counties and I suppose you could nearly count everybody as smaller behind Dublin at the minute," he continued.
"I got the opportunity to represent Ireland. I was fortunate - I was from a smaller county, so you don't want players to miss out on those opportunities either. There's no question I enjoyed it and, as a player, I wanted it - that was a selfish element, I suppose you want to take the opportunity to represent your country.
"It was great to meet other players and play with players from other counties outside of Ulster - naturally, you would take it. But as a spectator now - I don't know if it's what the GAA needs."
