Four Mayo players to represent Ireland in Masters International Rules

Mayo supporters will have the opportunity to enjoy a feast of Masters International Rules football on Saturday when Ireland will face Australia in three tests in Charlestown. It promises to be a historic occasion as the countries face off in Fr O'Hara Park in front of what the organisers hope will be a very large attendance.

The Mens Over 40s, Mens Over 50s and Ladies Masters teams will face off against the touring Australians in Charlestown on Saturday and a week later they will meet again in Denn GAA Club, Crosskeys in Cavan.

Mayo will be represented on and off the pitch with four locals set to wear the green of Ireland between the white lines. Charlestown's Sean Lenehan will feature on the Over 40s team, Pat Mulchrone and Sean McCaughey will take their place on the Over 50s squad and Michelle McGing will feature for the Ladies team. There will also be strong Mayo involvement in all aspects of management, support services and administration.

CALLED UP

Lenehan has been a standout performer for Mayo Masters the last couple of years and his outstanding fitness levels, skill set and versatility brought him to the fore as a most suitable candidate for International Rules.

In a twist of fate, despite being All Ireland Masters champions Tyrone had no Over-50 player registered to play International Rules. This meant an extra slot in the panel for one county and fortunately it was Mayo that got the nod to film the vacant Tyrone spot. Somewhat fittingly perhaps one of the Mayo representatives is Sean McCaughey from Westport, who whilst resident in Mayo for 27 years is originally a Tyrone man.

He is joined by Kilmeena man Pat Mulchrone who is still going strong as a player and a leader for club, county and now country. Both men have previous experience of International Rules games having both played at Over 40 level Sean.

In addition, the London representative on the Over 50s squad is John Reddington a Foxford native and Moy Davitt’s clubman. John played his underage football with Moy Davitt’s before emigrating to London. Over the years work commitments curtailed his football involvement but John never lost his passion for the game and in the last number of year returned to more regular activity with the recently formed Wandsworth Gaels club, while also representing London Masters in intercounty competition for the last eight years.

HISTORY MADE

The Irish Ladies Masters team will have one of the most decorated footballers of all time in their ranks. Over the course of a glittering career, Michelle McGing has won everything there is to win with her club Carnacon and Mayo Ladies and it's fitting that she gets the unique opportunity to be the first woman from the county to play for Ireland in Masters International Rules. Michelle has won two All-Ireland senior titles with Mayo, six All-Ireland club titles with Carnacon, an All-Star in 2003, 16 Connacht club titles and 22 Mayo titles with Carnacon, therefore representing Ireland is another fitting landmark in an illustrious career

Mayo's involvement does not end on the pitch. Fresh from his stint as Mayo Senior Ladies manager Michael Moyles has the task, along with his backroom team of marshalling the Ladies squad drawn from the 23 different counties for this novel contest against strong Australian opponents.

Also on board as official photographers are long-term members of the Mayo Masters backroom team Martin McIntyre and Carol Boyle.

DRIVING FORCE

It can be argued that there would be no Masters football of any description in Ireland let alone international contests on this scale were it not for the tireless efforts of long term Gaelic Masters Association chairman John Pat Sheridan from Burrishoole.

Sheridan has been instrumental in reviving the Masters competition after it was disbanded some years ago.

Masters football was originally the brainchild of another Mayo man Dr Mick Loftus who instigated an intercounty competition in the early 1990s however a percieved lack of enthusiasm amongst incoming GAA hierarchy meant the competition lapsed in 2009.

However with Sheridan to the forefront of the newly formed Gaelic Masters Association the competition has gone from strength to strength with six counties competing in 2012 and 23 taking part last season.

Sheridan says hosting the latest and expanded edition of the International Rules Series is a wonderful achievement for the Gaelic Masters Association and the strong Mayo involvement is an added bonus.

“I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to Charlestown chairman Liam Breheny and all involved there for hosting the first round of games. It’s a huge logistical undertaking and we greatly appreciated their support. There’s very few clubs with the facilities, goodwill, resources and enough motivated members to make this happen and we couldn’t be thankful enough.

“We just hope that Mayo people turn out in big numbers on the day to support the event and make it a day to remember. It's an event not to be missed. The Aussies are coming with strong panels and the likes of Jason Akermanis are well known from AFL and previous International Rules games,” Sheridan continued.

“There are excellent players on all panels and we expect keenly-fought games both in Charlestown on Saturday and Cavan the following week. The hybrid rules create a more catch and kick style of football with plenty foot passing and the mark being an integral part of the game, somewhat of a throwback to how Gaelic football used to played.

“This will be refreshing and we expect the games to be very enjoyable and competitive,” he concluded.

Throw-in times on March 9 in Charlestown are as follows: Ladies Masters, 2pm; Mens Over, 40s.

The Mens Over 50s game has now been moved to Curry GAA grounds with a 12 noon throw-in.