GAA news round-up: Seán Cavanagh will captain Ireland in the forthcoming International Rules series against Australia. The Tyrone star, hotly tipped to be named footballer of the year following his county's All-Ireland success, will be making his fourth appearance in the hybrid game.
Ireland manager Seán Boylan, seeking to halt an embarrassing run of defeats against the Australians, confirmed his decision this morning with Cork defender Graham Canty also named as vice-captain.
Boylan and his selectors are currently in the process of finalising their squad with the full touring party not due to be announced until next Tuesday.
"Seán Cavanagh has been in the form of his life this year," Boylan said today. "He was man-of-the-match in the All-Ireland final and was one of the key players in Tyrone's march to glory this year. He is also ideally suited to the International game and it is a tremendous boost to have him on board."
Boylan added that Canty, another International Rules veteran, is "a natural leader" who has "starred for Ireland in the past".
This year's tests take place in Perth on 24th October and Melbourne on 31st October.
Galway's proposed move to the Leinster hurling championship, meanwhile, has received the unanimous support of the county's senior hurlers. The panel met last night to discuss the mooted switch to Leinster and gave the proposal their "100 per cent backing".
In a statement released this morning the panel pointed out that "competitive games would provide them with the platform of hard championship games they require".
"The Galway panel are of the view that the 2008 championship model did little for their aspirations as they were the only team in the country to go out of the competition after just one loss," the statement added.
"The panel are asking for the support of the rest of the country in the move to Leinster, it will be for the better of hurling and that is what we all strive for."
The Hurling Development Committee has recommended that Galway and Antrim both be granted entry into the Leinster championship on a three-year trial basis. But there has already been significant opposition to the move with the Dublin, Offaly and Wexford county boards voting against Galway's inclusion.
The Galway county board are due to vote on the proposal this evening.