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Kernan keen to play a game that will save the Series

New Ireland manager Joe Kernan says he'll send his nation out to play an attacking brand of ...



Kernan keen to play a game tha...
Football

Kernan keen to play a game that will save the Series

New Ireland manager Joe Kernan says he'll send his nation out to play an attacking brand of compromise football that will win over fans and go some way to ensuring the future of the Series.

The Armagh man was named as the new Irish International Rules boss today and succeeds Paul Earley for the one-off Test against Australia at Croke Park on November 21.

"To represent your country is something special," Kernan, who will be assisted by Rules veterans Darragh Ó Sé, Padraic Joyce and Dermot Earley, told Newstalk's Oisin Langan.

"Every player in every county has a chance to play on this team if they hit form and have a good summer with their counties. Certainly we'll be looking at every county."

The former Crossmaglen boss said this management team will start contacting selected players in "early August" and training "sessions will start twelve weeks before the match".

Kieran McGeeney and Joe Kernan with Sam at Armagh's All-Ireland homecoming in 2002 ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan 

Ireland lost to Australia last year, and despite defensive tactics prevailing in Gaelic football at present, Kernan insists he'll send his side out to take the game to their opponents as they try to reclaim the Cormac McAnallen Trophy.

"All the teams I had wanted to move the ball long and fast from my club (Crossmaglen) to my county (Armagh) to my province (Ulster)," he said.

"I think it simplifies the game. We're going to have players coming in from everywhere who play a brand of football with their county.

"We will train and keep it as simple as possible and move it long and fast and play with the intensity that we do and have the support play."

Listen to Joe Kernan here:

He continued: "The fact that the tackle is in - if you hold on to the ball too long you're going to be blown up. So this is about speed, accuracy of foot-pass and long passing, and we have good forwards so if they get any opening at all they'll be able to take their scores."

The future of the Series has always been a matter of debate and Kernan aims to win over supporters with the brand of football he'll send his Ireland out to play.

"We're all judged on what we do ... let's hope that we can set the spark so that spectators is going to enjoy here in Croke Park," he said.

"If we have a good day here it will ensure that the Series continues."

Kernan in his playing days with Armagh against Peter Forde of Mayo back in the league in 1986 ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

The 60-year-old added: "I think it's important for the players, we honour our players.

"My own son Aaron played it one year and we were so proud and delighted he was able to do it.

"The Irish jersey is hung in the house there, and a lot of people asked about it."

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