INTERNATIONAL RULES/Preliminary squad: Team manager Seán Boylan has left the door ajar for Setanta Ó hAilpín to join the International Rules panel despite excluding the former Cork hurler from the 39-man preliminary squad that travels to Toulouse today for a training camp, reports Gavin Cummiskey

Boylan will endeavour to make contact with the Carlton Blues player, who is currently in Ireland. Ó hAilpín's availability would bring the number of AFL players in the squad to three as Kerry's Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney Swans) and Laois's Colm Begley (Brisbane Lions) have already been called up.

A difference in approach between Boylan and the man he succeeded as manager, Pete McGrath, became apparent with yesterday's announcement.

McGrath released his 43-man panel in August last year but several players withdrew well in advance of the two-test mauling in Perth and Melbourne.

Boylan had delayed his announcement on several occasions to ensure every player named would be available and to personally inform those who missed the cut.

The meticulous process fits with the former Meath manager's track record, but his methodology will only be fully tested in a little over a fortnight's time when the fancied Australians look to repeat last year's whitewash.

There are notable inclusions, starting with the return of Kieran McGeeney, who was overlooked during the McGrath years despite excelling in previous Compromise Rules encounters. The former Armagh captain is joined by county comrades Steven McDonnell, another absentee last year, because of family reasons, and Ronan Clarke.

All-Ireland champions Kerry have five representatives (six counting Kennelly, who also missed last season).

Kieran Donaghy, the overwhelming favourite for the footballer-of-the-year accolade, is joined by Brendan Guiney who despite being a Kerry substitute this season made such an impact in recent trials that he is expected to make the final 27-man squad.

Boylan's native Meath have five representatives - Kevin Reilly, Anthony Moyles, Graham Geraghty, Joe Sheridan and Charles McCarthy - while Munster champions Cork have four, including Alan Quirke, the only goalkeeper in the panel.

Men like Dermot Earley (Kildare), Joe Bergin (Galway), Shane Ryan (Dublin), Darren Rooney (Laois) and Nicholas Murphy (Cork) bring a notable physical presence to the group, probably with an eye on avoiding a repeat of last year's embarrassingly one-sided dust-ups.

Tyrone's Seán Cavanagh and Stephen O'Neill will also be expected to make significant contributions. Other new additions include Paddy Bradley and Ger Brady, who both bring rugby backgrounds that might prove useful in the tackles, Brady in particular having held a professional contract with Connacht.

The selection of Down's Benny Coulter is no surprise; he was one of the few players to return from Australia last year with an enhanced reputation.

Boylan will reduce the panel next Wednesday and name a new captain to replace Pádraic Joyce, who is now a selector.

As it stands, 17 counties are represented but Boylan said the ongoing involvement of players in county championships and the interprovincial championship had delayed his final selection.

Leinster and Connacht travel to Boston next week for the interprovincial football final, just six days before the first Test, in Pearse Stadium on Saturday October 28th.

"We are currently monitoring the progress of a number of players," said Boylan. "Some of the lads have not been able to attend as many of the training sessions as we would have liked because of club commitments in particular. There are also the usual worries with injuries and fitness, but after this weekend, we will have a clear indication of where we stand."

Irish preliminary squad

Aidan O'Mahoney (Kerry)
Marc Ó Sé (Kerry)
Paul Galvin (Kerry)
Kieran Donaghy (Kerry)
Brendan Guiney (Kerry)
Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney Swans, Kerry)
Kevin Reilly (Meath)
Anthony Moyles (Meath)
Graham Geraghty (Meath)
Joe Sheridan (Meath)
Charles McCarthy (Meath)
Alan Quirke (Cork)
Ger Spillane (Cork)
Nicholas Murphy (Cork)
Donncha O'Connor (Cork)
Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)
Ronan Clarke (Armagh)
Stephen McDonnell (Armagh)
Darren Rooney (Laois)
Tom Kelly (Laois)
Colm Begley (Brisbane Lions, Laois)
Seán Martin Lockhart (Derry)
Paddy Bradley (Derry)
Shane Ryan (Dublin)
Alan Brogan (Dublin)
Kieran Fitzgerald (Galway)
Joe Bergin (Galway)
Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone)
Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone)
Brendan Coulter (Down)
Michael Walsh (Down)
Alan Dillon (Mayo)
Ger Brady (Mayo)
Paul Barden (Longford)
Dermot Early (Kildare)
Johnny McCarthy (Limerick)
Karl Lacey (Donegal)
Karl Slattery (Offaly)
Dessie Dolan (Westmeath)

27-man panel to be announced October 18th