4 Kildare players on International rules training squad

A provisional panel of 31 has been named including four Kildare players. Rob, Leper, Tomás and Bolts. There are also six Aussie-based lads. Panel will be reduced to 23.


http://www.daraghoconchuir.ie/blog.php?id=1400

Anyone have any insight into how these 4 Kildare players were chosen?

I would have thought that Daryl Flynn, James Kavanagh and Mick Foley would have had the required size and strenght as possible candidates. Was it that they were still involved with club championship?

I know Bolton was involved previously which I think was good for him. I hope Tomás O'Conor makes the final panel as I think he could be abit of a secret weapon in near the goal to get marks!

I think it would be a great experience for all of the players to get a trip to Aus so fingers crossed (with Geezer involved in selection) that they will all make over.

They've been training for a good while but I don't know how many were called up and what players were cut, or what players weren't asked. I'd say Mick would have been focussed on Athy anyway

Emmet Bolton has been named - they named 18 of the 23 today for some reason. They're talking about injuries but who ever heard of 3/4 of a panel being named?
Cluxton is captain. I'd say Bolton's brand of play, his hardness but much more importantly, his ability to go forward from a deep position is highly valued in international rules...

http://www.daraghoconchuir.ie/blog.php?id=1427

Well done to Emmet, he has being close the last couple of years but always seemed to lose out at the end. Hope he gets game time now.
I think the reason only 18 were named is due to some of the players still being involved with their clubs. No point in naming a lad and then he has to pull out.

Fairly sure Bolton played the last time it was on

Not 100% Jimmy but pretty sure although he made the squad last year he never actual got on the pitch.

he was standby player last year he re placed micheal shields in frist test was who was playing in cork county final that day

both bolton and kavanagh got game time last time it was on very little game time but they did get on

Is Bolton not hurt at the moment. He played against Monasterevin last week clearly hampered by an injury.

centreback wrote:

both bolton and kavanagh got game time last time it was on very little game time but they did get on

emmet came on a short period in limerick and james scored a goal in croke park

James kavanagh got married last wkend, possibly that's the reason he wasn't considered?

Read today that Tomas O' Connor is on stand by along with Eamon Callaghan and Rob Kelly.

Yeah, the other 12 or 13 players that were on the extended training squad are in contention for the five remaining spots on the panel... It's the maddest thing I've ever heard. Lads don't know what's going on. Just name the squad. If lads have to pull out, so be it. Presumably Tohill, Geezer and co know what five they want to bring but they want to see if lads get through games and recover from injuries. I think Rob got a concussion I heard somewhere. But as someone else said, they named Darran O'Sullivan and he went off in a county championship game last week with the hamstring again. So I just don't understand it.

Anyway, apart from all that, hope some of the lads get the nod, I'd say Leper is really made for the game with his intelligence and good angles of running. Tomás would be an obvious target man.

Hearing that Eamonn Callaghan has made the final 5.... Rob Kelly & Tomás O'Connor didn't...

Personally I think it's great for the lads that get picked, it's great to see them representing the country. However can't help but feel a bit nervous about the possibilities of any our players picking up serious injuries after a long hard season! Touch wood.....

I am worried about players like Bolton getting burnt out. These lads need to do nothing for 2 months but relax.

Darren Frehill is saying that 4 of the 5 spots are filled and that Leper has gotten one of them. Brendan Murphy and Zack Tuohy got two others. I've forgotten who he said the fourth was

colm begley was the fourth... I did reckon the type of game that international rules is suits a player of Leper's intelligence and versatility

Saturday, 15 October 2011 20:56
Ireland manager Anthony Tohill has called four more players into his International Rules squad to travel to Australia next week.

Carlow's Brendan Murphy, Eamonn Callaghan from Kildare and Laois pair Zach Tuohy and Colm Begley have all been selected for the two test series.

There is now just one official place still left in the 23-strong travelling party, but that will be filled in the coming days.

Congratulations to Callaghan for getting selected. The more Kildare players the better (once they don't get injured). Callaghan has good pace and determination which will probably be importatnt.

I did originally think a full forward line of Donaghy and T O'Conor would be something worth seeing and just lob a few balls in to them to put the Aussies under pressure.

Could be abit of a backlash from the rugby loss to Ireland and I'd imagine they would like to beat us in this game. Worrying if Cluxton doesn't play - a good keeper is a huge part of this game with good kick-outs. Might be worth looking at putting a non-goalkeeper in goals if Cluxton doesn't make it!

Heard oz have a load of rookies playing so dont think they are taking it too seriously if that is the case?

sure it was the same the last time and for a few years before that.... They stopped picking their All-Australian team a long time ago when it became clear that their best key position players in attack and defence were too slow for the Irish. So they have gone for a mobile team in the last few years. Of course we think they're huge but as far as they'd be concerned, they'd be putting out a small, running team.

I think only four players have played IR before but Stephen Milne is one of the best goal sneaks in AFL and is around 29 or 30. While there were a lot of kids the last time, it must be said that they did have the likes of Adam Goodes and Dane Swan, two Brownlow medallists.

It would be fair comment to say that the junket abroad is more enticing than playing at home at the end of long season and it is very evident that it means more the the Irish players than the Aussies as there would be a lot of midfielders like Chris Judd, Nick Dal Santo and Jimmy Bartel who would be outstanding at IR if they were of a mind to play.

As we have seen though, the Aussie skill set has improved significantly and I would still say we're underdogs

Two Kildare players with championship game time to attend AFL trails in limerick for Carlton...
Seen this in paper today

Anyone see Bolton's injury, just saw him going off on a stretcher, hopefully it's not too serious! Great to see Leper scoring