Swans seek to extend Kennelly’s AFL deal

AUSSIE Rules club Sydney Swans have opened negotiations on a new contract for Tadhg Kennelly in a bid to extend the Kerryman’s time Down Under.

Kennelly is currently mulling over his future and getting over an ankle injury which has prevented him from lining out with Ireland in the International Rules series.

He has admitted that it’s coming close to “crunch time”, having recently stated his desire to return full-time to Ireland and to line out with the Kingdom’s senior footballers.

“The club are talking to my agent and trying to make an offer to me but while I’m at home I’m trying to just enjoy my break,” Kennelly said.

“Obviously they don’t like players coming to the end of their contract and they want to sign me up again sooner rather than later.

“I’ll definitely go again with the Swans for this year but then it’s crunch time.

“I’m not getting any younger and I don’t want to be coming back to play for Kerry with my best years behind me,” Kennelly declared.

Meanwhile the GAA’s Management Committee is to implement a revamp of the format of the National Hurling League with fewer games and a speedier conclusion to the competition on the cards.

The Management Committee will finalise its plans when it meets in the next two weeks.

Among the changes planned is that the play-off phase of the competition be dispensed with.

“The matter was brought to the last meeting of Central Council and it was agreed that Management Committee would have the authority to make a decision on the changes,” explained Tony O’Keeffe, chairman of the Central Games Administration Committee (CGAC).

“The main change that has been spoken about involves getting rid of the second series of games.

“That’s mainly because of all the extra games now taking place in the championship.

“That’s the essential change, which was also mentioned last year.

“We decided then that we’d wait and see how the whole year went,” Mr O’Keeffe added.

A final decision on the changes will be made at the Management Committee meeting of November 11, the same day as Leinster, Munster and Connacht make their 2006 championship draws, and the eve of the National Club Forum in Killarney.