Cavanagh out of International Rules

Tyrone legend Sean Cavanagh will miss next month's International Rules series in Australia because of club commitments.

Cavanagh confirmed his retirement after Tyrone's 2-17 to 0-11 All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin on 27 August, calling time on a 16-year inter-county football career during which he won three All-Irelands, six Ulster titles, two National League medals and five All-Stars.

Ireland manager Joe Kernan invited the 34-year-old to join his squad for the two-Test series against Australia in Adelaide on 11 November 11 and Perth on 18 November, but Moy's 2-5 to 1-7 Tyrone Intermediate Championship final victory over Derrylaughan means that Cavanagh and his younger brother Colm will be playing in the Ulster Club Championship instead.

Moy will now face the Monaghan champions in the Ulster Club IFC quarter-final on 29 October.

Cavanagh said he warned Kernan last week that "it would be tough" to juggle club, family and work commitments to represent Ireland in Australia.

He and his wife Fionnuala are expecting their third child in the coming weeks, while Cavanagh has had to relocate to new work premises after a fire at his accountancy practice in Moy.

"The International Rules is something I've always loved doing, but there's certain priorities," Cavanagh, who captained Ireland to a series victory in 2008, said last week.

"I had a fire in the business this week, and my wife is heavily pregnant at this stage, so there's lots of things happening in my life at the moment."

Missing the Championship already? eir Sport will broadcast up to 30 games from the GAA Football and Hurling Club Championships in 2017. Coverage continues on Saturday, 14 October on eir Sport 2 with the Dublin club football championship semi-finals between Ballymun Kickhams and Kilmacud Crokes [throw-in 5pm] and reigning Dublin champions St Vincent's and St Jude's [throw-in 6.45pm] from Parnell Park. Earlier on Saturday, the Meath Football Club Championship semi-final between Simonstown Gaels and Wolfe Tones at Pairc Tailtean will be shown live on eir Sport 2 [throw in 3pm].

Image: Inpho/ Ryan Byrne

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