Bernard Brogan: It’s an honour and privilege to captain Ireland

Dublin's Bernard Brogan will captain this year's  EirGrid Ireland International Rules team who face Australia in the  upcoming one Test series against Australia at Croke Park.

The 2015 All-Ireland medal winner and former Player of the Year (2010), who is in contention again this year with county mates Jack McCaffrey and Philly McMahon, has been named by team manager Joe Kernan as his team captain ahead of a wider panel announcement early next month.

Ireland will meet Australia on the evening of Saturday, November 21 - the 95th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

Reacting to his appointment Brogan said: "It is both an honour and a privilege to not only represent Ireland, but to captain the national team too. As Gaelic footballers, opportunities to play for Ireland and pit our skills against athletes from other nations and codes are few and far between and next month we will test ourselves against arguably the strongest ever Australian team to come here.

“Not only do they include the best of the AFL in terms of talent but they have experience of this code in their ranks, not least with their management team whose exploits both in their domestic game and indeed in this code, are proven. It’s a challenge we will relish and I look forward to working with Joe and his selectors and all of the lads on the panel to do our best to keep the Cormac McAnallen Cup in Ireland.”

Team manager Joe Kernan added: “I wish Bernard well in what is a coveted role. He is following in the footsteps of many great footballers in accepting the role and it is something he is sure to embrace.

“He has been a top footballer in our game for many years - something borne out by the many accolades he has earned - and he has also shown his prowess in this game. In addition to helping to generate a vital team spirit amongst our players, he will also lead by example where it matters most - on the field of play.”

Rosemary Steen of EirGrid said; "As sponsor of this competition we would like to congratulate Bernard on being announced as team captain. It is a statement of intent to have a former Player of the Year and current All Ireland winner leading this team and shows the calibre of talent that will be representing Ireland in Croke Park on 21st November.

“On behalf of EirGrid, I wish Joe, Bernard and the squad the very best with their preparations in the coming weeks."

Brogan has previosly played twice for Ireland, back in the 2010 series. He was top scorer in the first game defeat in Limerick with nine points and he scored five in the second game reversal in Croke Park.

Brogan, whose brother Alan has also represented Ireland, replaces Michael Murphy who led the Ireland challenge in last year's narrow defeat to Australia in Perth and in the home series win the previous year.

In addition to commemorative activity on the night to mark the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, there will also be a schedule of family entertainment which will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the Croke Park encounter are currently on sale via www.gaa.ie and participating SuperValu and Centra outlets, priced at €25 for adults and €5 for children.

Group and school passes are also available, €3 per child with one adult free with every 10 children, please see www.gaa.ie/tickets for further information.