Tentative proposals to stage one of this year's International Rules games between Australia and Ireland in America have been shelved by the Australian NFL.

The organisation had been examining the feasibility of re-locating one of the games to the northern hemisphere, given that the spectacle would probably attract much support from expatriates domiciled in the States and that a game time could be arranged which would suit viewers in both Ireland and Australia.

However, it has now been decided that all games will be hosted by Australia and the NFL hopes to finalise dates and venues as early as next week.

While Melbourne is likely to attain at least one of the matches, there is a strong probability that the action will transfer to either Sydney or Adelaide at some stage during the series.

Sydney has a traditionally strong Irish support base, while Adelaide has become a burgeoning hotbed for Australian Rules football.

The NFL has been encouraged by the phenomenal reception the revived game received in Ireland last year and is hopeful that Australians will embrace the forthcoming games with similar enthusiasm.

"I think the initial fears that the Australians would ignore the games weren't realised and the team and organisers were greatly warmed by the reaction to the matches here last October," commented Dermot Power, marketing manager at Croke Park.

The Australian broadcast networks were apparently pleased with viewing figures for both matches (the games were screened live at 2am in parts of Australia) and also with the reaction on phone-in shows, when a lot of Australians admitted their scepticism had been erased.

The visiting team took the first game after a thunderous encounter in Croke Park, and lured 35,000 people to Croke Park for the concluding match, in which Ireland secured the Series on aggregate scores.

Although it is unlikely that the return series will generate the same sort of crowds as travelled to Croke Park last Autumn, the GAA has received a significant number of enquiries from Irish people interested in travelling to Australia this year.

"I suppose it's a time when the economy is doing well and it suits people in that the series essentially is played at the end of the summer and people can maybe tie in the games with a visit to family or whatever. But the interest is certainly a positive indication as to the viability of the International Rules game in the long term," said Power.

Once venues and dates have been announced by the NFL, the GAA will begin finalising its own arrangements, including sponsorship for the team.

Meanwhile, Wicklow GAA has announced a unique sponsorship deal with its county council, which has agreed to contribute £150,000 to gaelic games over the next five years.

The move - passed unanimously by members of Wicklow county council - includes expenses accrued by the county senior football team but it is anticipated that the finance will be divided among under-age teams also.

The jersey sponsorship logo will read `Garden of Ireland', a concept the council has been promoting heavily in recent years. Details of the initiative will be officially announced on Monday evening.