Earley vowing to 'play it by ear'

October 29, 2014

Ireland coach Paul Earley stand's with his team for The National Anthem. INPHO

Ireland boss Paul Earley says he will wait and see in regards to which players will be available for the squad's trip to Australia two weeks from today.

Yesterday Earley revealed his 25-man squad for the one off test in Perth on November 22, with four of the panel still involved in their respective clubs' county and provincial championship campaigns.

Chrissy McKaigue (Slaughtneil), Michael Murphy (Glenswilly), Conor McManus (Clontibret) and Ciaran McDonald (Aherlow) have been included despite their other commitments and Earley has vowed to "play it by ear" in each case over the coming weeks.

"Right now they are available," the Roscommon man confirmed. "Michael (Murphy) is playing a club final on Sunday and if they win they have a game the following Sunday, which is the weekend before we leave. Then if they win that it goes to the 16th.

"Similarly with Chrissy McKaigue, who plays on the ninth against Cavan Gaels. The previous week, Conor McManus plays against St Gall's on the second. The Tipperary championship is pretty fluid at the moment so we will just have to play it by ear.

"One of the reasons we have picked a bigger squad is because we have to be fluid."

Team captain Michael Murphy's situation is potentially the most complicated, as he is due to line-out for Glenswilly as they bid to defend their Donegal SFC title against St Eunan's next Sunday. A win in that game and they will play Fermanagh champions Roslea in the quarter-final of the Ulster club SFC on November 9, with the semi-final scheduled for November 16.

Earley confirmed that they will wait and see the outcome of the fixtures in the coming weeks before a decision is made on the Donegal full-forward's involvement.

"If there are games on the 16th - we travel out on the 12th - then we will have to assess it at that stage. That happens in the game if there are injuries and replays and what not," he said.


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