Ireland's International Rules manager Joe Kernan is hopeful that Dublin ace Diarmuid Connolly will make himself available for selection following St Vincent's Dublin SFC final against Ballyboden St Enda's on Sunday.

"Their club is number one for the players, but they also want to play for their country, so I haven't ruled Diarmuid out," the Armagh man revealed to The Irish News.

"We are leaving the door open as long as we can and hoping we can finalise the squad then.

"A player of Diarmuid's quality would really suit this game because we want to kick the ball and there is no better player in the country at kicking the ball, right or left, than him and maybe throw in a few scores along with that.

"But he is captain of his club and it's a big commitment, so we'll know in the next week or so."

Kernan, meanwhile, confirmed that former captains Sean Cavanagh and Michael Murphy will play no part in next month's one off test against Australia.

A knee injury forced Cavanagh to withdraw from the panel while Murphy is also on the injured list according to the Armagh man.

"We'd love to have them, but unfortunately we don't.

"Injuries are part and parcel of it and there's other boys who can step into the breach."

Neil McGee (Donegal), Barry Moran (Mayo) and Brian Fenton (Dublin) are also on the injured list while, for the first time, Ireland won't have any Australia-based players in their squad.

Approaches were made to Carlton regarding Zach Tuohy and Ciarán Byrne, but neither was released, while Pearce Hanley (Brisbane Lions) is injured.

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