Just one Test, much later in the season, under a further modified set of rules: it is surely now the last compromise in the already heavily compromised International Rules series with Australia.

Even the promise that the opposition will this time only field players from an All Australian selection – their equivalent of the GAA All Stars – may not be enough to save the series in the long term.

GAA president Liam O’Neill admitted as much in announcing the 2014 series will be limited to one game, in Perth, on November 22nd.

“After the conclusion of the 2013 series, we expressed our genuine fears for the future of International Rules, if the best players from both countries were unable to commit to their national sides,” said O’Neill.

“Both associations agreed the one-sided nature of the last two series has had a major effect on attendances and general public interest. It is obvious to us all if this trend is not reversed in 2014, it will be difficult to argue that there is any sustainable future for the game.”

That puts a lot of expectation on Perth in November, and the 43,500-capacity Patersons Stadium, for what will be the first time in the competition’s 30-year history that just one game will decide the winner. The series ran from 1984-1990 as three-Test games, before the two-Test format was adopted when the series was revived in 1998