Football

Ireland team announced for International Rules Masters events in Galway and Cavan

Tyrone Gaelic Masters players Mark Gallagher (Eglish), Damien Gormley (Trillick), Kevin Gormley (Carrickmore) and Gavan Mc Elroy (Carrickmore) have been selected to play for Ireland in the International Rules series for 2016.

Cavan have seven players in the 37-strong panel, Donegal four, and Antrim two.

After a series of trial games running since August, the four Masters All Ireland winners from 2015, received confirmation of their inclusion in the panel. Damien Gormley had the added honour of being elected captain with Sligo’s Eamon O’Hara vice-captain.

Tyrone managers Eugene Bradley and Joe Leonard add to the counties representation as managers of the Ireland panel.

Up until 2008 players involved in the Gaelic Masters competition (Over40's) tried out for an All Ireland team to play their counterparts from Australia in a Masters' International Rules series.

This practice ended with the GAA decision to distance itself from the Masters in 2010.

With the formation of the Gaelic Masters Association and the ever-increasing profile of masters football it has been decided to reintroduce the Masters International Rules series.

This year Australia will visit Ireland to play the home team in a two-game series. The opening game is at the Kilkeeran/Clonberne club in Galway at 7pm on October 19 and the second clash is in Denn, Cavan on Sat 22 at time tbc.

The teams will compete for the Paddy Gaffney Memorial Cup in honour of former Irish Masters footballer Paddy Gaffney from Cavan.

Ireland Panel for International Rules matches v Australia

Lloyd Kelly, John Slattery, Sean O Dowd, Declan Meehan, Ger Keane, Ollie Hannon (Galway), Philip Rainey, Joe Corroon, Joe Cunnane (Westmeath), Bryan Hennelly, Sean McCaughey, Danny O Toole (Mayo), Eamonn O Hara, David Durkan, Con O Meara (Sligo), John Coyle, Declan O Neill, Mike Keane (Longford), Oliver Costello, Kiernan Fox, Mark Rehill, Christy Shiels, Jason O Reilly, Padraig Sheridan, Jerome Kiernan (Cavan), Gavan McElroy, Kevin Gormley, Mark Gallagher, Damien Gormley (Tyrone), Charlie Gallagher, Charlie Doherty, David McShane, Daniel Bradley (Donegal), Colin Mallon, Ronan Hamill (Antrim), John Kenny, Roy Malone (Offaly)