McCarthy and McCaffrey dispute Clerkin's 'snub' claim
November 18, 2017
Ireland manager Joe Kernan and Jack McCaffrey celebrate.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.
Dublin duo James McCarthy and Jack McCaffrey are none too impressed with former Monaghan player Dick Clerkin tweeting that the All-Ireland winners had snubbed the International Rules series.
There is no doubt that the absence of members of Jim Gavin's all-conquering team from Joe Kernan's squad undermined the credibility of the Irish challenge and, speaking on RTE's coverage of the second test this morning, Ciaran Whelan admitted that he was "a little bit disappointed that there was no Dublin representative".
Sitting alongside the ex-Dublin midfielder was recently retired Tyrone ace Sean Cavanagh who revealed: "I was part of the initial panel that was to go to Australia and play.
"I was part of the Whatsapp group and the Dublin players were there and they were posting that they couldn't make the training on the Friday night, couldn't make the training on the Saturday morning and that just boils down to one thing - the GAA calendar.
"It's not that the Dublin players didn't want to be there."
In response to Clerkin's 'snub' claim, McCarthy and McCaffrey have taken to Twitter to set the record straight…
Do some research
- James McCarthy (@JamesyMac26) November 18, 2017
Don't need to train for a trip to Boston. You'll have to forgive some lads for trying to give something to their clubs at the tail end of a season
- Jack McCaffrey (@jackmcc93) November 18, 2017
Comparing a weekend away with maybe 1 or 2 days off work with a 2 week spin to Oz isn't exactly like with like either ?
- Jack McCaffrey (@jackmcc93) November 18, 2017
Do you even know who was asked? You have no idea
- James McCarthy (@JamesyMac26) November 18, 2017
Perfectly OK. It's not as if a blanket invitation was given to any Dublin players who fancied a shot. None that were asked were available. I'm sure some of the lads would have loved to play. Get over it.
- Jack McCaffrey (@jackmcc93) November 18, 2017
TweetFair enough Jack, honest answer. I personally would have been very disappointed not to see my county represented, but each to their own I guess
- Dick Clerkin (@dickclerkin8) November 18, 2017
