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| | Monday, 7 October, 2002, 13:41 GMT 14:41 UK Ulster quartet in Rules squad  Paul McGrane has previous experience of the code Only four Ulster players have been included in the 26-man Irish International Rules squad for the Test series against Australia later this month. Armagh All-Ireland winners Kieran McGeeney and Paul McGrane will be joined by Tyrone pair Colin Holmes and Cormac McAnallen. The chances of major Ulster representation was lessened by the decision of Derry trio Anthony Tohill, Sean Marty Lockhart and Fergal Doherty plus Donegal forward Brendan Devenney not to make themselves available. There may be raised eyebrows at the All-Ireland Champions only earning two places in the squad. However, Irish selector Peter McGinnity pointed out in a BBC Radio Ulster interview on Sunday that the Armagh players had been unable to attend training sessions because of their All-Ireland commitments.
"We really can only think of selecting players who have got experience of this code either from training sessions or having played before and only Kieran McGeeney and Paul McGrane are in this category," said McGinnity. Armagh forward Ronan Clarke and Cavan's Nicholas Walsh are among five players named in a stand-by panel should any of the squad drop out. Eleven players have been included in the International Rules panel for the first time. They are Mayo goalkeeper Peter Burke, Anthony Lynch (Cork), Paddy Christie (Dublin), Colin Holmes (Tyrone), Tomas O Se (Kerry), Declan Meehan (Galway), Evan Kelly (Meath), Joe Bergin (Galway), Paul Barden (Longford), Derek Savage (Galway) and Ray Cosgrove (Dublin). Kieran McGeeney and Seamus Moynihan are the only survivors from the 1998 series when the International Rules contests were revived after an eight-year lapse. Paul McGrane and Dessie Dolan return to the panel having missed last year's tour of Australia. The tests take place at Croke Park on 13 October and 20 October. Meanwhile, Kerry boss Paidi O Se has said that he will stay on in the position for another year. There had been speculation that he might quit in the wake of Kerry's defeat in the All-Ireland Final. Ireland squad: Peter Burke (Mayo), Graham Canty (Cork), Anthony Lynch (Cork), Paddy Christie (Dublin), Colin Holmes (Tyrone), Tomas O Se (Kerry), Kieran McGeeney (Armagh), Trevor Giles (Meath), Declan Meehan (Galway), Anthony Rainbow (Kildare), Evan Kelly (Meath), Eamon O'Hara (Sligo), Seamus Moynihan (Kerry), Dara O Se (Kerry), Paul McGrane (Armagh), Cormac McAnallen (Tyrone), Joe Bergin (Galway), Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney Swans), Brendan Jer O'Sullivan (Cork), Paul Barden (Longford), Dessie Dolan (Westmeath), Derek Savage (Galway), Padraig Joyce (Galway), Ciaran McManus (Offaly), Graham Geraghty (Meath), Ray Cosgrove (Dublin). | | See also:  06 Oct 02 | N Ireland 05 Oct 02 | N Ireland 23 Sep 02 | N Ireland Top N Ireland stories now: Links to more N Ireland stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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