The Hurling/Shinty international can be a hard sell.
The highland game and hurling are further apart than Gaelic football and Aussie Rules and therefore harder to compromise. Then there is the relatively small catchment areas for both games compared to Gaelic football and AFL (31 counties versus 12, Australia versus remote parts of Scotland).
Ireland head to Inverness on October 22 to defend their crown against a Scottish selection. While last year’s side who triumphed in Croke Park featured hurler of the year TJ Reid, there are no Kilkenny players participating this year.
Nor Waterford, Cork, Galway or Clare.
The side captained by Laois’s Eoin Reilly does boast a trio of All-Ireland winners in Michael Breen and the McGrath brothers, John (above) and Noel, from Tipperary.
The team are managed by Galway’s Jeffrey Lynskey and Gregory O’ Kane of Antrim.
Senior Team
1. Eoin Reilly, Laois (Captain)
2. Micky Boyle, Kerry
3. Michael Breen, Tipperary
4. Mickey Burke, Meath
5. Danny Cullen, Donegal
6. Paul Divilly, Kildare
7. Shane Dooley, Offaly
8. Cha Dwyer, Laois
9. Cathal Freeman, Mayo
10. Gerry Keegan, Kildare
11. Damien Healy, Meath
12. Pat Kelly, Kerry
13. John McGrath, Tipperary
14. Noel McGrath, Tipperary
15. Karl Murray, Longford
16. Brian Murphy, Kerry
17. Shane Nolan, Kerry
18. James Toher, Meath
