Heslin included in International Rules panel
Days ahead of his appearance with St Loman's in the Westmeath senior football final, John Heslin has been selected for the provisional Irish panel for the 2013 Irish Daily Mail International Rules series.
Although Laois's Zach Tuohy is the only current AFL-based player on the panel, Heslin's inclusion brings an added injection of Aussie Rules experience to the table; the Westmeath star spent a short time with Richmond Tigers in 2012.
The panel of 29 is expected to be cut back by manager Paul Earley, before the Irish play their first test against Australia at Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan on Saturday October 19.
Provisional squad: Michael Murphy (capt., Donegal), Aidan Walsh (vc), (Cork), Paddy O’Rourke (Meath), Colm Begley (Laois), Colm Boyle (Mayo), Ciaran Byrne (Louth), Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Paul Conroy (Galway), John Doyle (Kildare), Paul Flynn (Dublin), Finian Hanley (Galway), John Heslin (Westmeath), Darren Hughes (Monaghan), Lee Keegan (Mayo), Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin), Paddy McBrearty (Donegal), Jack McCaffrey (Dublin), Niall Morgan (Tyrone), Neil McGee (Donegal), Chrissy McKaigue (Derry), Ciaran McKeever (Armagh), Kevin McLoughlin (Mayo), Conor McManus (Monaghan), Ross Munnelly (Laois), Aidan Ó Shea (Mayo), Ciaran Sheehan (Cork), Michael Sheilds (Cork), Zach Tuohy (Carlton & Laois), Daithi Waters (Wexford).