Irish flags flying as Setanta makes Carlton debut
Less than 100 days after he left Cork with little knowledge of Australian Rules football (AFL), Ó hAilpín made his senior debut for Carlton in the quarter final of the AFL pre-season tournament against Geelong.
He might have only contributed three kicks and one tackle, but nothing can take away from Ó hAilpín's meteoric rise.
Playing a half- back flank, in the number 38 Navy Blue shirt of Carlton, Ó hAilpin startled the crowd in the opening minutes when he kicked long and sprinted out of defence, in support of a teammate who was closing in on the Geelong goal.
It was a stupendous opening for him, and delighted the small Irish contingent who waved their tricolors in approval, of their hero's delightful impetuosity.
Ó hAilpin had only had one VFL practice match and two intra-club hit-outs before the Wizard Cup clash against the Cats and admitted he found it a big step up.
"It was a tough start for me today. In time my decision-making will improve," Ó hAilpin laughed.
"It was just a natural thing for me to do-to support my teammate who was running towards the Geelong goal.
"The first kick felt really good and the crowd really got behind me which was great."
"Seeing the Irish flags lifted me, and the telephone calls from the family in Ireland before the game, also meant a lot to me."
For the rest of the first quarter, and most of the second, Ó hAilpin used his height, pace, and strength on the odd occasions that he was called upon to defend the Carlton back line. He made another telling kick out of defence, mid way through the first quarter, with an assurance, which pleased his coach, Denis Pagan.
"There are not too many people on the planet who could have achieved what Setanta has today," Pagan said. We took a real punt on him in this match but we are proud of him. He had a very good first half."
Towards the end of the second quarter, Ó hAilpin made a well-timed tackle, and fluffed a kick, otherwise know as a 'kick clanger', to prove that he is human after all.
He remained a peripheral figure in the third quarter and was substituted before the start of the final quarter, with a pat on the back from his coach.
"The heat and lack of match practice was a factor in my decision to take Setanta off at three quarter time.
"He also had to ice his hamstring we will sit down with him next week and decide when to play him next," said Pagan.
Last week, at the same venue, Ó hAilpin's brilliant performance in a similar defensive role for the Carlton second team, convinced Pagan to pick him for Saturday's match. The 20-year-old admits that playing Geelong was an all- together different experience from a week ago.
"Today's match was 50% quicker than last week," Ó hAilpín said.
"The biggest difference between hurling and AFL is the level of fitness."I am now 60-70% fitter than I was last September before the All-Ireland final.
"If you are unfit as an AFL footballer, you should stay at home."
Geelong ran out comfortable winners at the final siren, by 86 points to 66. The Cats scored 13 goals to Carlton's 9.
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