Former Meath footballer Colm O'Rourke has been appointed as manager of the Irish team for the forthcoming International Rules series against Australia. The games are scheduled to take place on October 11th and 18th in Croke Park, with a return series in Australia in 1999.

O'Rourke, twice and All-Ireland winner with Meath, represented Ireland on a number of occasions at International Rules. The last International Rules series took place in Australia in 1990, with Ireland winning two of the three tests.

The Sligo manager Mickey Moran announced his resignation after the county's defeat to Roscommon yesterday. Moran, a former manager of his native county Derry, was at the helm for two years.