Club v country dilemma for Cavanagh

From rte.ie

16:41

Friday, 10th October, 2008

Ireland's International Rules captain Sean Cavanagh is facing a club versus country dilemma.

His club's championship campaign is set to clash with this month's Rules series Down Under.

Moy are just one game away from the Tyrone Intermediate Championship final, which takes place after the Ireland squad leave for Australia.

And if Moy win the title, the club's first ever Ulster Club Championship tie is scheduled for the Sunday between the two Tests against Australia.

Cavanagh has already agreed with Ireland manager Sean Boylan that he would fly to Australia a couple of days after the rest of the squad make the trip, should his club make it to the county final.

But no arrangements are in place for a possible appearance in the provincial series, which would take place on Sunday 26 October, sandwiched between the two International Rules Tests, to be played on successive Fridays, 24 and 31 October.

Cavanagh is, however, hoping that, should a clash emerge, the Ulster Council may consider rescheduling the Ulster IFC preliminary round tie.

'I have agreed with the Irish manager and selectors that if we do make it through to the Intermediate Championship final, I will be able to fly out a day or two afterwards.

'I think it's the same with Benny Coulter and a couple of the other players that are involved in club matches that weekend,' he said.

Moy face Derrylaughan in the Tyrone IFC semi-final on Sunday, and with four members of Tyrone’s All-Ireland winning team in their ranks – the Cavanagh brothers, Sean and Colm, Philip Jordan and Ryan Mellon, they are strongly fancied to win.

'To win Tyrone is our number one objective at the minute, but we're not looking any further than this Sunday's semi-final.'

But a title success a week later would complicate matters for the Ireland skipper.

'There's no agreement in place at the minute for that, but we would just have to appeal to the Ulster Council, if that scenario should arise, for some latitude.

'Maybe they could put it back a week, but it's out of my control at the minute.

'I will be travelling to Australia as captain, and I would be hugely disappointed if I missed Moy's first Ulster Club Championship match, if that scenario arose. But what can I do? It's out of my hands.'