Ciarán Kilkenny’s decision to stay in Ireland will ultimately be proved a correct one, according to his club chairman.

THE number of Irish players listed by AFL clubs next year was reduced to eight yesterday as Essendon showed Michael Quinn the door.

FORMER Young Footballer of the Year Tommy Walsh is edging closer to the first team with AFL side, St Kilda.

TOMMY WALSH has admitted that the manner in which he ended up with St Kilda couldn’t have worked out better for him.

TADHG KENNELLY’S first appearance on an AFL scoresheet for 22 months wasn’t enough to help Sydney Swans avoid a shock defeat to lowly Richmond yesterday.

AUSSIE RULES attempts to unearth the next Tadhg Kennelly or Martin Clarke are to mushroom in August with plans for a “draft” camp to be set up here that will run the rule over a shortlist of up to 30 young Gaelic footballers.

KERRY have turned to Ballylongford’s Paddy Kelly in a bid to strike the right midfield balance for Sunday’s Munster SFC semi-final against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.

On the cusp of his AFL Premiership debut with the Carlton Blues, Setanta O'hAilpín has been ruled out of action for four weeks with a stress reaction in his right foot.

CARLTON coach Denis Pagan is adamant that Setanta Ó hAilpín “is very close” to making his AFL debut.

THE MOMENT of truth finally arrived for Setanta Ó hAilpín on Saturday afternoon at 2.10pm, at Optus Oval, the home of Carlton Football Club, in Melbourne.

Former Cork hurler Setanta O’hAilpin’s Aussie Rules’ senior debut ended in defeat this morning as the Carlton Blues lost their season’s opener 86-66 to Geelong at the Optus Oval.