GAA chiefs fear worst as Setanta offered contract

YOUNG Hurler of the Year and one of the GAA’s most marketable talents Setanta Ó hAilpín has been offered a contract by Australian Football League club Carlton, but has until Friday to make up his mind.

Ó hAilpín spent the past week on trial with the Melbourne-based club impressing head coach Denis Pagan and his team with his athleticism and attitude.

However, fearing the worst, Cork GAA bosses were last night attempting to come to terms with the impending announcement. "Setanta was a breath of fresh air to inter-county hurling this year," according to Cork minor hurling boss Denis Ring, who coached Ó hAilpín for two years.

"If you ask any under-age player in any county in the country what player made the biggest impact in 2003, without hesitation they'd say Ó hAilpín.

"He was the main man, and what was really remarkable about him was the consistency he showed in all the games he played. What a loss he would be to the county, particularly at U-21 level next year.

"The minors won the All-Ireland in 2001 and would be expected to be in the running for U-21 honours in 2004 a title which Cork badly need," said Mr Ring.

"Cork had spent several years looking for an orthodox kind of player in the full forward line where, no matter what kind of ball was given in, he won it.

"Setanta became the answer to a huge problem Cork had in that area. Now that we got the right player, he is suddenly going from us. It's a huge body blow to the county.

"Personally I found him a dream to work with. He was always willing to learn, something that will stand to him in his new surroundings.

"Nothing was too much for him, and while I've no doubt he will make the decision to play in Australia, he will be sorely missed here in Cork."

The news is a devastating blow for hurling in Cork and the game nationwide and could spark a worrying trend according to GAA president Sean Kelly.

"Everybody is free to make their own decision but I would be a little concerned with the ease and the haste at which one of the most marketable properties in the GAA can be signed up by another sport," Mr Kelly said last night.

Kilkenny's All-Ireland winning manager Brian Cody said that the decision was a sad one for the game of hurling.

"He had a very impressive year and certainly caused us a lot of problems. No one likes to see talent of that calibre being lost to the game. But such is life."

Meanwhile, Offaly midfielder Ciaran McManus last night dismissed speculation linking him with a move to the AFL.

The former Allstar was one of Ireland's most impressive players in the recent Compromise Rules Series against Australia.