Kerry Players Down Under

[kerrygold]

Thursday, 29 October 2009 12:52
Down's Jamie O'Reilly has signed a two-year contract with AFL side Richmond Tigers, but admits the move is a risk.

The Loughinisland club-man underwent a three-week trial with the club during the summer, while Antrim player Tomas McCann is also heading out for a trial.

O'Reilly will undergo seven weeks of pre-season training in Australia and after returning home for Christmas, will then head back Down Under.

He told The Irish News: 'As a young person, it's too good an opportunity to pass up.

'As well as that I could finish my degree in Business Management at Queen's and get a 2:1, but there is no guarantee of a job.

'I could spend the next year on the dole and ho hopes of a job. This way I can do something that I enjoy and get paid for it at the same time and get a lot of life skills out of it.

'The idea of getting paid to play sport for a living obviously appeals to me, but the challenge of it appeals to me too.

'There's definitely an element of risk involved. It may not work out, but it's a challenge.

'And the fact that someone actively sought me out and believes I have something to offer was flattering too.'

[patinkerry]

Another Kerry blow as Kennelly eyes Swans return

By Tony Leen

Monday, November 02, 2009

KERRY coach Jack O’Connor is bracing himself for a third body blow to his 2010 Championship plans, with Tadhg Kennelly poised to agree a full-time return to the professional ranks of the AFL next season.

Kennelly will return next week to Australia to promote his controversial autobiography and is set to begin formal talks on a return to the Sydney Swans while Down Under.

He’s made no formal announcement in Kerry about his departure, but has intimated to a couple of close friends in the Kerry set-up that he won’t be around next season.

With Tommy Walsh contracted to the AFL’s St Kilda, and David Moran hoping to secure a deal with the same club, it’s a considerable blow to O’Connor’s hopes of retaining Sam Maguire next season.

Kennelly’s departure would be a serious loss to Kerry. His powerful finish to the campaign won him his cherished All-Ireland medal, and an All Star, with stellar displays against Dublin, Meath and Cork. However it was his botched admission in his autobiography, ‘Unfinished Business’ that he ‘targeted’ Cork’s Nicholas Murphy in the opening seconds of September’s final that has landed him in hot water.

Kennelly (28) subsequently apologised for his actions: "I wouldn’t go out to deliberately do anything to sully my father’s memory or the good name of Kerry football. And I never have. I’m not that type of footballer. I sincerely apologise to all Kerry supporters and the management team if I have in any way caused distress."

How much of an influence the controversy has had on his decision whether to play AFL or gaelic football next year is uncertain. However, having achieved his lifelong goal of emulating his father, Tim, and brother, Noel in winning All-Ireland medals with Kerry, he is seriously tempted by the prospect of a return to the Swans.

There’s also the lure of a lucrative new AFL contract that would give him financial security going forward.

Swans coach Paul Roos says he will not be putting any pressure on Kennelly to return to the club following his season with Kerry. The Listowel native remains a part of the Swans’ squad and as a result, they could wait until just before the AFL’s final list lodgement on December 2, before either including him, or delisting him.

Roos said: "It’s really up to Tadhg. The main thing is to make the decision himself. At the end of the day you’ve go to be happy with your own decision."



This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, November 02, 2009

Read more: www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/another-kerry-blow-as-kennelly-eyes-swans-return-104675.html#ixzz0VgqQrW6A

[kerrygold]

Hard to see Tadhg staying around.

We could have 20% of the potential starting 15 of next years kerry team in Australia next year.

Add in Darragh being in the very late winter of his career and when you devide kieran into Darragh,Tadhg,Tommy and David it doesn't go.

[seamus]

There is something not right about a player swanning in for a year winning a medal and an All Star and heading off into the sunset for a year. Donncha Walsh missed out on starting a final.
Tadhg has spent a lot of time talking to anyone who would listen about tradition, legacy, history and the rest but this looks like selfish, hollow words right now. I will reserve final judgement until the deal to take him back to Oz is completed which it will be in the coming weeks.
I just hope he doesn't mention 'earning power' and other such terms when several of our county players are struggling to keep jobs because of the committment they give to Kerry. Declan Sullivan packed in his job in 2006 to try and get his place back on the team.

I have no problem with Tadhg doing what he did at all. He wanted to win an AI and did. I just wish he had came back and kept his mouth shut.

He just doesn't get it.......

[mafi97]

Nov 2, 2009 10:55:01 GMT seamus said:

There is something not right about a player swanning in for a year winning a medal and an All Star and heading off into the sunset for a year. Donncha Walsh missed out on starting a final.
Tadhg has spent a lot of time talking to anyone who would listen about tradition, legacy, history and the rest but this looks like selfish, hollow words right now. I will reserve final judgement until the deal to take him back to Oz is completed which it will be in the coming weeks.
I just hope he doesn't mention 'earning power' and other such terms when several of our county players are struggling to keep jobs because of the committment they give to Kerry. Declan Sullivan packed in his job in 2006 to try and get his place back on the team.

I have no problem with Tadhg doing what he did at all. He wanted to win an AI and did. I just wish he had came back and kept his mouth shut.

He just doesn't get it.......

I'm glad somebody else said it. I too wish he had come back and kept his mouth shut - and I wished that long before he released his book.

[chrism]

Well at least maybe his coaching job might go to someone who is unemployed at the moment.

[jerryewe]

When the rumours were going around about Kennelly going to St Kilda I said it reflected badly on him and compared him to Ashley Cole for his lack of loyalty. I was pulled up for this but I stand by what I said. Seamus and mafi97 make perfectly valid points above and I agree with them to a certain extent, however surely Tadhg owes something to Sydney too. He has often mentioned the efforts that Paul Roos made to help him settle and also the fact that he came across the world to watch a game (denying a more loyal supporter a ticket but thats another argument !) he probably hardly understands because of what it meant to Tadhg. Also Sydney as a club allowed Tadhg to take a year out of his contract while still in his prime. The point I am making is that maybe Tadhg feels that he has a loyalty to the Sydney Swans as well.

My view on Moran and Walsh leaving is that why should they not give it a go and the same applies to Tadhg albeit not havin to prove he can adapt

[denden]

some joke..

[Seoirse Ui Duic]

I would understand if Tadhg would go back down under. They have treated him well and he played 7 years for the Swans. He is the only Irishman, at least I can't think of another, that won an AFL Premiership and he certainly was the first. He's been living a long time down under and must have many friends there and he probably was well settled in.
He gave a good career, a home and friends up to realise his dream of winning an All Ireland medal.
When he moved no one was sure if he'd be able to adapt and make the team but in just a few months time he managed to make it onto the starting team for the final. Some achievement that is.
The fact friends and his former boss came over to watch the final shows how much they respect him and how good friends they are. After living in another country for a few years you'll become adapted to that country and after 7 years he's probably as much Australian as he is Irish.
As an immigrant myself I feel what many feel: you're home in both countries but also home in none. Tadhg owes a lot to the Sydney Swans and they owe a lot to him.

Players like Moran, Walsh and Kennelly have the choice between staying in Ireland and playing a game they love but also not getting paid for it and facing unemployment.
In Oz they can play a similar game, get paid and enjoy all the good things that come with playing a professional sport. They can fully concentrate on their games and that would mean they are getting even better players. If the Gooch could train 7 days a week, have the best equipment and training facilities and get a good paycheck, he'd be the best player in the world.

With professionalism comes also greed and anonymity so I don't think the GAA should ever go professional. If 4 guys a year leave for Oz it's a big loss to the GAA but if also 4 guys come back each year it will also help the GAA.

Maybe we should consider a compromise where AFL clubs are allowed to lease a limited amount of players each season which would help them but also the GAA as this funding could go to clubs and make sure any club in the country is well run and has excellent training facilities.

[the1theyalllove]

Nov 2, 2009 12:15:10 GMT mafi97 said:

Nov 2, 2009 10:55:01 GMT seamus said:

There is something not right about a player swanning in for a year winning a medal and an All Star and heading off into the sunset for a year. Donncha Walsh missed out on starting a final.
Tadhg has spent a lot of time talking to anyone who would listen about tradition, legacy, history and the rest but this looks like selfish, hollow words right now. I will reserve final judgement until the deal to take him back to Oz is completed which it will be in the coming weeks.
I just hope he doesn't mention 'earning power' and other such terms when several of our county players are struggling to keep jobs because of the committment they give to Kerry. Declan Sullivan packed in his job in 2006 to try and get his place back on the team.

I have no problem with Tadhg doing what he did at all. He wanted to win an AI and did. I just wish he had came back and kept his mouth shut.

He just doesn't get it.......

I'm glad somebody else said it. I too wish he had come back and kept his mouth shut - and I wished that long before he released his book.

here here - i think it makes a bit of a mocker of trying to play for your county and trying to get on to the county panel when it looks like Tadhg will walk away again after a year.......fellas would give there right arm to be put on the green and gold jersey or even train with kerry -

[patinkerry]

We all knew that he came back to win an AI medal, throughout the league and until after the AI final he never said he was going to stay. The majority of us were happy to have him on the team and appreciated his skill as he continuously improved over the year. We were all happy to see him be part of a near perfect team against Dublin, get MOM in the Meath game and contain Canty in the final. He played for his county because he was one of the best-we wanted him. People are on the team not because they would give their right arm but because they have something significant to contribute-Tadgh did.

Sure I would prefer if he stayed around especially after the fiasco with the book. I would like to see him go through another championship, restore his name, like Galvin did this year but if he goes, well then he goes!

[kerrygold]

I think the Australian situation will become a bigger issue than people are realising at the present going forward.

If Tommy succeeds down under and joining Tadhg as a success he will become more of an icon for young up and comimg kerry players going forward than the ones that stay at home and play for kerry.

All young players want now is a professional contract, its a times like this that Declans Brownes loyalty to his club and county strikes a cord, having turned down several advances and offers from other clubs and counties.

Going forward the Declan Brownes will become less and less.

[jerryewe]

Kerrygold I have to disagree with you there. I don't think Aussie Rules will ever be a threat to Gaelic Football in this country. Aussie Rules is a much more physical than football so they will only be interested in big men. Most of the current Kerry team are younger than Kennelly yet not one of them has had interest from Australia until now. With all due respect to Tommy Walsh but the Gooch, Tomas Se, Marc Se, Declan Sullivan plus more would be better footballers than him yet there was never any interest in them from Australia. This is because they are only interested in big strong athletes. The situation with two players going at the moment is a freak occurence and I feel sorry for the Rahillys but I think David Moran is being carried just to help Tommy Walsh settle in at first and I believe he will be back before the end of 2010.

As for Aussie Rules being a threat to the popularity of Gaelic Football in the county, I think that is preposterous due to the lack of a serious outlet for anyone to play it. I think it would be much more of a threat if there was a Kerryman playing soccer in the premier league or if the rumours a few years had been true and Darran Sullivan had joined Munster. Despite this Gaelic Football is strong in Kerry and will reamin that way for a long time. Maybe there won't be as talented a group of players but people will still want to play with their local club. We should not be worried about these things and have faith and confidence in our games and the people who organise and run clubs. I'm not old enough to remember Italia 90 but I'm sure people said soccer would take over but football got stronger. After the Grand Slam this year people said rugby was the bit threat but even after all the success of Munster there is still less than 10 rugby clubs in Kerry despite them needing the same numbers as a football team

[Seoirse Ui Duic]

Gaelic Football will ALWAYS be the number one game in Kerry as long as the people want it to be. As long as it is young lads will dream of playing for their club and their county.
Despite soccer success in the 80's, rugby successes this decade and players making a name for theirselves in AFL football is still the big game.
Tommy and David will play a few years down under and can still come back being even better players after that.
I do remember Italia 90 and indeed back then the soccer hype was everywhere, almost 20 years later soccer is still where it was 100 years ago.

[fortyyards]

While he hasn't set the world alight with the county team, the potential loss of David Moran (should he also be offered a contract) was more than brought home to me by his fine performance on Sunday in U-21 club final, some cracking points he kicked in that game.

[nicoshea]

Ye do not know the full story of why Kennelly is going back (if he is) and he doesnt have to stay with Sydney Swans if he doesnt want to....He doesnt owe them anything

[Jo90]

How is this possible???
"as they hung on to win another county title in Tommy Walsh’s first and last under-21 appearance with Strand Road."

[MrT]

Best of luck to the 2 boys out there, they'll need it but I genuinely hope they can make the cut!

[mollydublin]

i hear up here in dublin paul galvin might b geting a trial with the swans in aus .that tadhg got it for him

[kerrygold]

David Moran is hoping to join Tommy Walsh on St Kilda's books
Tuesday, 17 November 2009 15:33
Kerry duo Tommy Walsh and David Moran have passed their medicals at St Kilda ahead of the new AFL season.

The pair arrived in Melbourne last week and had their fitness assessed by the club's medical staff over the weekend.

Walsh is now ready to begin his two-year contract with the AFL Grand finalists, while Moran is gearing up for a two-week trial with a view to securing a contract also.

Moran told the Irish Sun: 'I know it's going to tough because I've only got two weeks to make a good impression, but I'm going to give it everything I've got.'

While Walsh insists he has no regrets about leaving Kerry. 'It was definitely the right time for me to leave the GAA after we won the All-Ireland this year,' he said.

'I knew after last year, when I trialled with St. Kilda, that I wanted to make a go of being a professional sportsman and I can do that in the AFL.'

[peanuts]

Mayo are in danger of losing another of their rising stars to Aussie Rules following the news that Aidan O'Shea will depart for Melbourne next Sunday for trials with Richmond and the Western Bulldogs.

However, the 19-year-old, who impressed in his first season with the Mayo seniors this year, has committed himself to John O'Mahony's squad next year, seeing any potential Aussie Rules switch as an option for "down the road".



The big Breaffy clubman, who scored a cracking goal against Meath in this year's All-Ireland quarter-final, first came to the attention of controversial Aussie Rules agent Ricky Nixon during Mayo's run to the 2008 All-Ireland minor final. Nixon has now arranged the trials for him.

"I'm going out there to see what the professional lifestyle is like, to get a taste for it," O'Shea told The Mayo News.

"It is an opportunity that has presented itself. I'm going to try the skills of the game and see how I am at it."

While O'Shea has been called out by the two Melbourne-based clubs to see what he is made of, it is a two-way street according to the teenager.

"I'm on trial with the clubs out there but I'll be examining them as well, to see if I like it out there. I'm looking at it as a possible option for down the road if things were to work out, but I have committed to Mayo for the next year and I've spoken to John O'Mahony on it.

"I really don't know how I will get on. I know it won't be easy but I'll go and see what happens. I'll be coming back in early December and returning to my studies in DIT and preparing for the FBD, even if there might be a big difference in the weather!"

Two years ago, Ballaghaderreen teenager Pearce Hanley signed for the Brisbane Lions after playing for Mayo in the All-Ireland qualifiers against Cavan.

[glengael]

I was reading the Observer Sports Monthly magazine and there was an interview with the actor Eric Bana. ( I think he was in the movie remake of the Incredible Hulk and he was the Time Traveller in the recent movie of the Time Travellers' Wife. ) I did'nt know he was an Australian but he mentions in the interview that he is a fanatical St Kilda fan. That would not even have registered with me a few months ago but now strangely enough, it does.

As an aside , I have read the OSM religiously over the past few years as I find it a most informative source of news and articles on the big world of sport outside the GAA. Occasionally it does feature GAA as in this month's article on Donal Og. Alas I read this week that the magazine is being discontinued as part of cutbacks in the Observer / Guardian Media group. I for one will miss it.

[animal]

Nov 18, 2009 12:52:48 GMT glengael said:

I was reading the Observer Sports Monthly magazine and there was an interview with the actor Eric Bana. ( I think he was in the movie remake of the Incredible Hulk and he was the Time Traveller in the recent movie of the Time Travellers' Wife. ) I did'nt know he was an Australian but he mentions in the interview that he is a fanatical St Kilda fan. That would not even have registered with me a few months ago but now strangely enough, it does.

As an aside , I have read the OSM religiously over the past few years as I find it a most informative source of news and articles on the big world of sport outside the GAA. Occasionally it does feature GAA as in this month's article on Donal Og. Alas I read this week that the magazine is being discontinued as part of cutbacks in the Observer / Guardian Media group. I for one will miss it.

I hadn't heard that about the OSM. That's an awful shame. I try and buy it whenever it's out. Excellent supplement.
By the way you may also know Eric Bana from such movies as Troy or the new Star Trek and for me his best role was in the Spielberg movie Munich.

[Johnnyb]

Eric Bana in Chopper was sensational - unrecognisable in it - bulked up and went insane. Fantastic movie

[fromthehorsesmouth]

ya johnny b....chopper was a fair mental story, great flick. true story might i add!!! But Delta Guddrem is a fanatic swans fan.....

[glengael]

Thanks lads, I did not know that Eric had such a made quite that many movies !!!

Yes animal, all the Sunday magazines in the Observer are being discontinued with the exception of the food one . That strikes me as a little strange to be honest. I hardly think our neighbours in the UK are any less sports mad than we are here. Maybe its the cult of the " celebrity chef" they are pandering to , who knows .

Given the lack of a quality Irish Sunday paper, I will continue to buy it though.

[Johnnyb]

Nov 19, 2009 14:22:00 GMT glengael said:

Thanks lads, I did not know that Eric had such a made quite that many movies !!!

Yes animal, all the Sunday magazines in the Observer are being discontinued with the exception of the food one . That strikes me as a little strange to be honest. I hardly think our neighbours in the UK are any less sports mad than we are here. Maybe its the cult of the " celebrity chef" they are pandering to , who knows .

Given the lack of a quality Irish Sunday paper, I will continue to buy it though.

Do you not rate the Sunday Times? its the only Sunday paper I go with.

Sunday Independent is like the TV3 of newspapers - its generally hack and boasts a stellar cast of celebrity journalists, the likes of Brendan O Conor, Amanda Brunker and various other Z listers. Utter utter cack.

[glengael]

Sunday Times is the best of a bad lot I suppose. I am reluctant to enrich Mr Murdoch any further though. Never a fan of his newspapers and as a Liverpool follower, after 1989 well that was that.

Agreed re the Sunday Indo. It has been on skid row for many years now, a sad decline of a once decent paper.

To get back near the subject of the topic, I hope our two lads are enjoying better weather in Melbourne than we are here in the West

[Jo90]

Nixon worried about Moran attitude

23 November 2009
Kavanagh confirms departure Club Championship Round-Up New decision benefits GPA financially read comments | have your say Aussie Rules agent Ricky Nixon has warned David Moran to change his attitude or risk missing out on a contract with Melbourne club St Kilda.

Moran travelled to Australia with Kerry and Kerins O'Rahilly team-mate Tommy Walsh for a two-week trial with St Kilda, but has not impressed Nixon with his attitude and failure to take advice on board.

Walsh has already signed a two-year deal with the AFL club, but Moran has yet to sign a contract and Nixon has warned him to up his game or risk missing out on a future in professional sport.

"Dave wants to leave the GAA to play Australian rules with Tommy but he arrived here overweight and his body language hasn't been that great," Nixon is quoted as saying in the Irish Mirror.

"Its partly not his fault because he missed a large part of the GAA season due to his father's illness but he needs to show the right attitude to earn an AFL contract with the Saints.

"He's a laid back sort of person anyway but sometimes he comes across a bit too laid back.

"I was concerned when I met him a few months ago to talk about the possibility of him coming out to Australia and he hasn't taken the advice on board."

[Deleted]

Real classy there from Nixon.