Stephen Cluxton, Leighton Glynn and Finian Hanley also belatedly linked up with the Ireland squad Down Under after playing for their club sides last weekend.

But Footballer of the Year nominee Darran O'Sullivan had to pull out of the squad as there was no possibility of the Kerry Championship being rescheduled.

Dublin's deadly duo Alan and Bernard Brogan are also absent from this year's Series due to their involvement in St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh's county Championship run.

Begley told the Evening Herald: "You've got players who work their ass off for their county all year and then play for their clubs which they don't mind doing, but when you get a chance to play for your country and then you can't because you have to choose between club and country - that's not a choice that anyone should have to make.

"There should be two-and-a-half weeks off so that players can get to experience it (playing for Ireland) and to enjoy it. They should be able to play for their country and then go back and play for their club.

"But I'm just lucky that I got to come out here, even though it was unfortunate that we (Parnells) lost the game. But then there's Darran O'Sullivan who can't come out and he really deserved to be here."

The Laois man, who played Aussie Rules for the Brisbane Lions, feels that the situation can be dealt with if there is a better structure put on county Championships around the country.

"It is daunting enough to have to refocus yourself with only one day in between when you didn't even know you were going, and then you're also disappointed about the game (you lost).

"It's something that could be easily fixed in my opinion and maybe they can look at it for future Tests."

Meanwhile, Begley's Ireland team-mate Tadhg Kennelly has praised the level of commitment shown by Anthony Tohill's charges - some of whom have put added pressure on their jobs by taking three weeks off.

"It's very hard for people at home. These footballers are amateurs," he said ahead of tomorrow's first Test in Melbourne.

"The problem is trying to hold on to a job in Ireland at the moment. To try to get three weeks off work to come out to Australia to play a game, it's very, very difficult for players to come out and leave a job at home.

"It's extremely difficult for them to leave. That's I suppose the commitment that they've got to play for their country. The Rules Series is a great occasion for Irish footballers."