Ireland have "edge", insists Kernan

International Rules boss Joe Kernan insists his Ireland squad have "the edge" to beat Australia even with no Dublin players on the panel.

Mayo's Aidan O'Shea will captain Ireland's 23-man International Rules panel for November's tour of Australia, but, as expected, there are no Dublin players in Kernan's squad.

Dublin boss Jim Gavin wants his All-Ireland champions to take an extended break following the Dublin SFC club championship, which concludes on Monday with the final between Ballymun Kickhams and reigning Dublin champions St Vincent's, which will be shown live on eir Sport 2 [throw-in 7pm].

November's series will therefore be the first time in the 33-year history of the series in which no representatives of the All-Ireland champions will feature.

However, Kernan reacted angrily to suggestions that his squad may lack a cutting edge without any Dublin players.

"Wait a second, we have boys that will put their heads on the line and hopefully they will," Kernan, who managed Armagh to 2002 All-Ireland glory, said. 

"Are you saying Michael Murphy doesn't have the edge? That Aidan O'Shea doesn’t have the edge? That Chris Barrett doesn't have the edge, or Zach Tuohy?

"Killian Clarke is in there at corner back. Brendan Harrison is the best defender I've seen. Peter Crowley from Kerry, no edge with him? You know what I mean? We have all those boys.

"It would be great to have more but we don't so we are happy with what we have. We are looking forward to it."

Kernan reportedly asked 10 Dublin players his Ireland squad for the two-Test series against Australia in Adelaide on 11 November and Perth on 18 November, but all declined.

Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton captained the team on tour in 2011, and Sky Blues' forward Bernard Brogan was skipper in 2015 for the one-off Test at Croke Park, having both been part of the Dubs' side that won the All-Ireland final the previous September.

Dublin midfielder James McCarthy previously announced that he wouldn't take part because he was unable to take three weeks off work for the trip.

"All we asked was that they come on a Friday night and play one quarter but in fairness the clubs come first," Kernan continued.

"The sacrifices these boys have made over the last three years are huge, the time they took off work. One or two had to take time off to deal specifically with injuries. 

"It was practically impossible for them to commit, so while it's disappointing, people have to earn a living and employers can only take so much."

Ireland are the current holders of the Cormac McAnallen trophy following their 56-52 win over Australia at Croke Park in November 2015.

Armagh midfielder Niall Grimley and Cork forward Sean Powter have been added to Ireland's International Rules squad.

Cork forward Paul Kerrigan has withdrawn as his club Nemo Rangers are involved in the Munster Club Championship, while Essendon's Conor McKenna misses out with an ankle injury.

Missing the Championship already? eir Sport will broadcast up to 30 games from the GAA Football and Hurling Club Championships in 2017, including the Dublin club football championship final between Ballymun Kickhams and reigning Dublin champions St Vincent's from Parnell Park on Bank Holiday Monday, 30 October, which will be shown live on eir Sport 2 [throw-in 7pm].

And for hurling fans, eir Sport are showing the Dublin club hurling championship final between reigning All-Ireland club champions Cuala and Kilmacud Crokes from Parnell Park on Saturday, 28 October, live on eir Sport 2 [throw-in 3.30pm].

Image: Inpho/Tommy Dickson

eir Sport channels are available across the eir Vision, Sky and Vodafone TV platforms as well as on the eir Sport app. All 7 channels in the eir Sport pack are available for free if you are a residential eir broadband customer