'Huge honour' as Boylan gets Ireland job
Former Meath supremo Sean Boylan spoke of the 'huge honour' of being asked to manage the Irish International Rules team at his official appointment this afternoon.
The Dunboyne herbalist, who has been out of the managerial loop since last autumn when he stepped down as Meath manager after 23 years in charge, was confirmed as the new Ireland boss at GAA headquarters.
He succeeds Down man Pete McGrath, who oversaw a 57-point hammering by Australia in last year's controversial two-Test series in Perth and Melbourne.
GAA President Nickey Brennan was on hand to confirm Boylan's appointment and the 2006 Series details - the first Test will be played on October 28 or 29 at Pearse Stadium in Salthill, Galway, with the second Test to follow on November 4 or 5 at Croke Park.
Boylan, who led Meath to four All-Ireland titles (1987, 1988, 1996 and 1999) and three National Leagues (1988, 1990 and 1994), said of his new position: "It is a huge honour for me to be asked to manage the compromise rules team - it's a huge honour for me because I would have known over the years what it meant to players in their own county to have played (in the series). It is a remarkable thing to represent your country.
"The very fact that in the last series there was controversy with it, I suppose if it does nothing else it will make people realise how much they cared about it and how much they want to see it going ahead again and go ahead a little bit better the next time."
Boylan will have four selectors on board - Eoin 'Bomber' Liston (Kerry), Padraig Joyce (Galway), Anthony Tohill (Derry) and Hugh Kenny (Wicklow).
Current Wicklow manager Kenny is the only one not to have played International Rules previously, though he has managed the Irish Youth International Rules side. Liston played in three Tests between 1984 and 1990, Tohill, a former Irish captain, was capped eight times between 1998 and 2001 and Joyce, who is still a force to be reckoned with in the Galway full-forward line, skippered the men in green in both 2004 an 2005.
It was also confirmed that the Series will continue to occur every year with a 2007 tour to Australia already at the planning stage. It had been rumoured that there would be a switch to a biennial format due to a fixtures overload and the timing of the tour for both countries.
