Digest/ INTERNATIONAL RULES: Irish-Australian relations look set to come under further strain in the coming months as news broke in Australia yesterday of a proposed national recruiting network designed to help AFL clubs identify and sign up young Irish talent.
According to a report in the Herald Sunnewspaper, a plan has been devised to employ in each county in Ireland a scout who would in turn report to a national co-ordinator. That co-ordinator would place all the relevant information, videos and profiles of potential talents in a central internet port available only to clubs that have signed up to the network.
While the plan has not come from the AFL, the fact that up to five clubs - including the premier winners Geelong - are reported to be interested at this early stage, is bound to be of major concern to the GAA.
The project is the brainchild of the former Aussie Rules player Ricky Nixon, now one of the code's leading agents.
He is proposing to charge clubs in the region of 30,000 Australian dollars a year for access to his pool of information on the cream of Ireland's young footballing crop.
Having sent letters to all 16 clubs outlining his plans, Nixon is confident there will be enough interest in the project to make it a reality.
"It's fair to say in 24 hours we got substantial interest from more than five clubs," he said. "We all know Ireland is definitely untapped in its recruiting potential. Just look at Marty Clarke and what he did in 12 months of footy."
Collingwood, Carlton, Sydney and Brisbane already have an extensive scouting network in Ireland and have recruited the likes of Clarke; Kevin Dyas (Collingwood); Setanta and Aisake Ó hAilpín and Michael Shields (all Carlton); Brendan Murphy and Tadhg Kennelly (both Sydney); Colm Begley and Pearce Hanley (both Brisbane).
Nixon is offering other clubs an opportunity to tap into the Irish reservoir of talent, promising a full-time operator who will co-ordinate information provided by spotters on players from as young as 14, and he expects the four that have been most successful in attracting Irish players to show an interest as well.
"The advantage is clubs would have extensive on-the-ground recruiters instead of having to fly staff over there," Nixon explained.
TEAM NEWS: Galway's injury problems continue to mount ahead of Sunday's National Football League Division One trip to Kildare, with centre-back Diarmaid Blake ruled out.
Captain Kieran Fitzgerald and attacker Nicky Joyce will be out for a few weeks and they will be joined by Blake, who undergoes surgery in England this week for a groin injury.
CAMOGIE: Pearse Stadium in Galway will host the finals of the Purcell Cup. The competition is being hosted by GMIT this weekend, with eight teams set to compete for the Purcell Cup and Purcell Shield.
The first semi-final of the cup will see Mary Immaculate of Limerick take on either Queen's University or Tralee IT, who play in the quarter-final.
The second semi-final pitches reigning champions Athlone IT against the winner of the DIT and GMIT quarter-final.
The finals will take place on Sunday, the shield final starting at 1pm and the cup final at 2.30pm.
