Cluxton quick to answer Ireland's call

HE WON’T be engaging with the media nor it seems be making any public statements whatsoever. Nor indeed is there any guarantee he’ll even make the trip to Australia. And yet Stephen Cluxton had “no reluctance” in accepting the captaincy of the Irish International Rules team.

So says Ireland manager Anthony Tohill, and there was no denying him, as Cluxton, inevitably enough, did not attend the Irish team announcement in Croke Park. Tohill must still decide on a further five names to add to the 18 players now selected to travel, although any notable inclusions or absentees were obscured by the surprise at Cluxton’s selection as Irish captain given his now trademark refusal to speak to the media – on or off the record.

“In my list of things required to be team captain,” said Tohill, “his ability to speak to the media is not one of them. And that’s no disrespect. I know the media has a job to do, but I have got to take a football decision, and the right football decision was to make Stephen Cluxton captain.

“I respect totally that fact that he deals with the media in his own way. And that is his right as an amateur footballer. In fairness the media has accepted that and respected it.”

However, it’s a near prerequisite for an Irish captain to make some sort of media or public engagement, given the series itself is essentially a promotion of Gaelic football – yet Tohill was adamant that Cluxton didn’t see his apparent muteness as an issue: “He showed no reluctance. Stephen takes things in his stride. He wasn’t dancing around the place. He was very happy and honoured to be captain of Ireland.”

Part of the surprise at the appointment of Dublin’s All-Ireland winning goalkeeper was the fact that Cluxton still has club commitments that might well conflict with the series itinerary: the 29-year-old primary school teacher is set to play with his club Parnells this Sunday, against St Sylvester’s, and if Parnells win that they will face a quarter-final the following weekend, October 22nd/23rd.

The Irish team will travel to Australia on Friday week, October 21st, with the first Test against the Australians set for Melbourne on Friday October 28th, and the second Test a week later, November 4th, at the Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.

Cluxton may yet have to delay his departure, and if Parnells happen to make the Dublin semi-finals, ultimately decide between club and country.

“To be honest, we haven’t had that conversation because the situation has not arisen yet,” said Tohill. “We are only going for two weekends, so if there is an issue then there is no doubt that the will should be there to have that matter resolved, but he will not be looking forward beyond this weekend.”

But with the Dublin championship already well behind its original schedule it’s hard to see the Dublin County Board making any further concessions. Cluxton it seems is the only Dublin player set to juggle club and county commitments for the time being, as he’s the only Dublin player set to travel – as both Bernard and Alan Brogan are solely focused on their club, St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh.

“There were a number of players we would have looked at, and contacted,” said Tohill. “I suppose with club commitments, some players felt that they were going to be in it over a longer period of time and weren’t able to commit to it.

“Stephen Cluxton was there at training on the Saturday morning after the All-Ireland. He was at a wedding in Carton House Friday week ago and he came out of the wedding to train with us before going back into the wedding. His commitment has been phenomenal. His appetite for the game is unbelievable.

“Bernard and Alan and a number of other players as well would have liked to have played. In other circumstances they may have played. But it is a very difficult situation for players because they are under immense pressures from club managers not to play with us, not to train with us. I’m not saying that’s the situation in that particular scenario. But some players decided they were not going to be able to play so they are not going to come up at all. That’s fine. That was their choice.”

Tohill has still assembled an impressive mix of the new and the familiar, while awaiting on fitness and availability updates on a few more players before selecting the additional five names (Colm Begley of Laois is carrying a leg muscle injury, while Kerry’s Australian-based Tommy Walsh is also a likely addition). Tohill also admitted there is plenty to work on from the defeats of last year’s series, with the addition of Kieran McGeeney adding a “fresh voice” to his backroom team.

“Number one is we cannot afford to underperform in one of the games, and expect to turn it around in the second game. One of the other big learning things from last year was how poorly we kicked when we were under pressure. Australia taught us a lesson in how to kick the ball here last year.

“So we are trying to ramp up the intensity of our training and try to replicate the intensity so the lads are more used to disposing of the ball when they are under pressure. In Gaelic football, essentially our lads are allowed shoot without being touched. If you are touched, you are going to get a free. In International Rules, there is the threat of getting tackled like a rugby tackle. It’s pressure we’re not used to so it is a big area we are spending a bit of time trying ensure we are better equipped to cope with.”

FORMER Cork All-Ireland winning manager John Allen was unanimously ratified last night to take over the Limerick hurlers, while Fermanagh County Board have confirmed John O’Neill has resigned from the position of senior football manager.