Former Australia manager Kevin Sheedy has stoked the fires ahead of Friday's International Rules first Test in Perth by branding his 2006 counterpart Sean Boylan a 'leprechaun'. Sheedy's jibe comes as the Australian players and management acknowledged that a repeat of the 2006 violence over the next two weekends would signal the death knell for the series. Writing in his weekly newspaper column, Sheedy expressed delight at the return of the series after a year's absence but attacked Boylan for "ranting and raving" in the wake of the controversial 2006 second Test at Croke Park. He also warned the Irish players not to engage in use of the boot in the two Tests to be played in Perth and Melbourne. "At no stage was I concerned about the way the game was played. Sean Boylan didn't see it that way and he ranted and raved for an hour after the match in Dublin. I almost fell asleep waiting for my turn and it was the first time I thought I had met a leprechaun," Sheedy wrote. "There is one thing I would like to pass on to the Irish ahead of the revived International Rules series. You can punch an Australian and we won't be totally insulted. But if you kick us you are going the wrong way about it." Sheedy's comments are at odds with those of the Australian management and players who have been in diplomatic mode since Ireland arrived in Perth on Sunday night. Tweet

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