GAA:Down's Benny Coulter has resigned himself to playing, at best, the second International Rules Test against Australia at Croke Park after picking up an injury while on club duty last weekend.
A veteran of the Rules series and touted as a potential captain, Coulter will have to settle for a bit part after sustaining a hamstring injury immediately after scoring a goal during Mayobridge’s defeat to Burren in the Down club semi-final.
The 28-year-old underwent extensive tests at the Ballymun Sports Clinic in Dublin yesterday, which confirmed he will be out for at least three weeks.
"The tests showed that it was a grade one tear in the hamstring, so it's a three-week turnaround,” he said. “It had been tight for a few weeks, and then I suppose I shouldn't have played at the weekend.
"The first Rules game is probably going to be a few days too early for me, but the second game is a very strong possibility,” added Coulter in reference to the opening Test in Limerick on Saturday, October 23rd. The second Test takes place at GAA headquarters a week later.
"I was talking to Anthony (Tohill, the Ireland manager) on the phone and he said he would basically give me every opportunity. Hopefully, I'll get to play some part. I haven't missed a Test since it started back up again, and I've always really enjoyed it."
Coulter said he had no regrets in lining out for his club and if he had to choose between pulling on an Ireland jersey for the hybrid series or playing for Mayobridge in the final then the latter would win every time.
Tohill is due to name his Ireland squad tomorrow.
Elsewhere Maurice Horan was ratified as the new Limerick senior football manager and will take up the new role on a one-year term.
The Mayo native takes over from Mickey Ned O'Sullivan, who stood down after five years after Limerick bowed out of this year’s championship after losing to All-Ireland champions Cork in the qualifiers.
Horan steps up from managing the under-21 side during which time he was also a senior selector under O'Sullivan.