INTERNATIONAL NEWS:Daniel Goulding is hoping to play some part in the upcoming International Rules, writes IAN O'RIORDAN

SO MUCH for the off-season. Just a week ago Daniel Goulding was talking about his man-of-the-match performance for Cork in the All-Ireland football final. Yesterday he was talking about trying to juggle club and country commitments. When it comes to the GAA there really is no resting on your laurels.

Goulding was in Dublin to collect his Opel/Gaelic Players Association monthly award for September – the last such award of the season and usually the most prized, given it’s based solely on All-Ireland final performances. (The hurling equivalent went to Tipperary’s Lar Corbett – and that was no less surprising and no less justified.)

Yet like most of his Cork team-mates, Goulding was back in action last weekend with his club, Éire Óg, who compete in the lower intermediate grade. In beating Cill na Martra 1-15 to 0-11 (Goulding scored the goal), they set up a semi-final date against Kildorrery this Saturday – and while Goulding is largely focused on that, he’ll also attend a final trial for the Irish International Rules panel this Friday.

The critics might say the International Rules has lost some of its appeal, but not for the players. Goulding would love to be in Limerick and Dublin at the end of October, wearing the green and gold (even if that might feel a little uncomfortable).

“I would love to play it, personally,” said Goulding. “I think it would be a great series to be involved in. I just got the call there this week, to attend the trial, but I don’t really know what’s happening, I haven’t been up there yet so we’ll have to see. At the same time, I don’t know how other counties are, but in Cork your club is your club, and you have to keep giving your most for them.”

His Cork and Éire Óg team-mate, Ciarán Sheehan, is also likely to play some part in the International Rules, particularly with several Australian football clubs, including Carlton, looking to secure his services for next season. Goulding, however, like most people in Cork, is hoping he’ll stick around.

“You’d be hoping alright he’ll stay,” said Goulding. “I suppose there will be offers for him the whole time. He’s super solid and they are very interested in him. But if you look at the man, it is hard to believe that he’s 19 years of age. But then I played intermediate hurling championship with him when he was 15, so I know he is probably different to other fellas. For a 19-year-old he is exceptional and he had a great second half in the final as well when we needed it.”

Goulding’s performance in the All-Ireland, particularly his place-kicking, was what ultimately swung the result in Cork’s favour – and also why he’s certain to be a key player in Anthony Tohill’s Irish panel. But it didn’t happen by accident, and while the critics might also say the art of place- kicking is in decline, Goulding certainly proved otherwise.

“I suppose at the start of this year I tried to tweak it a small bit,” he explained. “I did a bit of work with Kevin Clancy our mental coach, just on trying to get a bit more of a routine. Like taking the importance of the kick out of it, if that makes sense, and trying to concentrate on the routine the whole time. Concentrating on kicking the ball rather than thinking of what was going on around me.

“But that’s really the only thing I really changed. Myself, and Donncha O’Connor, Colm O’Neill and John Hayes as well did a lot of work with him.

“Last year I didn’t have much work done on it and you would definitely notice it. Then again, I suppose the Dublin game this year, there was a couple of frees and you could barely hear yourself think. But the final then, I did a bit more work after the Dublin game again and it paid off I suppose.”

Goulding’s style of kicking off the ground also marked a sort of return to the more traditional method: “I always kicked frees off the ground, personally. But if you look at the likes of Colm Gooch Cooper he always took them out of his hands, and he is an excellent free-taker. Seán Cavanagh is the same. I think it is every man for himself really.

“I suppose myself I find anyway just when you are further out the pitch, the distance, it is easier to whack it off the ground than out of your hands. When you are kicking from distance out of your hands the ball tends to be less accurate in flight. That’s why I go off the ground.

“But I think free-takers are practising the whole time. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t. Thankfully it paid off at the right time of the year this time.”

GAA Fixtures

Saturday

Armagh SFC semi-final (replay): Crossmaglen Rangers v St Patrick’s, Silverbridge, 4.30pm.

Carlow SFC semi-final: Rathvilly v Mt Leinster Rangers, Dr Cullen Park, 5.30pm.

Dublin SHC quarter-final: St Brigid’s v Kilmacud Crokes, Parnell Park, 5.15pm.

Kildare SFC semi-final: Sarsfields v St Laurence’s, Newbridge, 4.30pm.

Offaly SFC semi-final: Rhode v Shamrocks, O’Connor Park, 3pm.

Tipperary SHC quarter-finals: Carrick Swans v Kildangan, Semple Stadium,4pm; Clonoulty Rossmore v Burgess, Semple Stadium, 5.30pm.

Tyrone SFC Semi-final: Coalisland v Kildress Wolfe Tone’s, Dungannon, 5pm.

Sunday

Camogie – All-Ireland Premier Junior Final (replay): Antrim v Waterford, Ashbourne, 2.30pm Carlow SFC semi-final: Old Leighlin v Kildavin/Clonegal, Dr Cullen Park, 3.45pm.

Cork SHC semi-final: Glen Rovers v Douglas, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 3.30pm.

Cork SFC quarter-final: St Finbarr’s v Ballincollid, Pairc Ui Rinn, 7.45pm.

Derry SFC final: Ballinderry v Coleraine, Celtic Park, 3.45pm.

Dublin SHC quarter-finals: Lucan Sarsfields v Ballyboden St Enda’s, Parnell Park, 2.30pm; Craobh Chiarain v O’Toole’s, Parnell Park, 4pm.

Fermanagh SFC final: Roslea v St Patrick’s, Brewster Park, 3.30pm.

Kildare SFC semi-final: Moorefield v Athy, Newbridge, 4.30pm.

Laois SFC semi-finals: Portlaoise v Stradbally, O’Moore Park, 2.30pm; Arles-Kilcruise v Graiguecullen, O’Moore Park, 4pm.

Limerick SHC final: Emmets v Kilmallock, Gaelic Grounds, 3.30pm (live on TG4).

Tipperary SHC quarter-finals: Toomevara v Mullinahone, Semple Stadium, 2pm; Thurles Sarsfields v Loughmore-Castleiney, Semple Stadium, 3.30pm.

Tyrone SFC semi-final: Carrickmore v Omagh, Pomeroy, 5pm.

Wicklow SFC final: Rathnew v Baltinglass, Aughrim, 3.45pm.

Westmeath SFC final: Garrycastle v Mullingar Shamrocks, Cusack Park, 3.30pm.

Wexford SFC final: Castletown v Kilanerin, Wexford Park, 3.30pm.