‘No-one has begrudged me this opportunity’

PRETTY soon, this Indian summer we are having will take its leave, and we will all turn our thoughts towards the winter oasis that is Christmas. Zach Tuohy has had his eyes on the month of December for some time already.

He turns 19 a fortnight before Christmas Day, and is hoping to receive the ultimate present by way of a phone call from Melbourne — a professional contract offer from Carlton Football Club.

Nothing is set in stone yet, but the signs are good. He flew out to Australia last month for a trial with the AFL side, and the club’s general manager of football operations, Stephen Icke, spoke highly of him when his week was wrapped.

A final decision will be made in about 10 weeks’ time — at both ends. Should Carlton offer him a two-year rookie deal, Tuohy will take the time to slosh the idea about in his own mind before deciding on whether or not to take the plunge.

“It is a big decision, and you are bound to have doubts,” he admits. “I would still love to win Leinsters and All-Irelands with Laois, as well as county titles with Portlaoise, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime.

“Most young lads would love to have this chance. Sacrifices will have to be made if I want to make it as a professional. If I am given the opportunity to go, I will have to think long and hard about it.”

He never expected to be offered the chance, but Carlton’s Gerard Sholley got the ball rolling when he rang up a few weeks after the teenager scored a cracking goal against Derry in last season’s All-Ireland minor semi-final.

His mum Marie was particularly nervous about last month’s journey, one that would take him through London and Singapore on the way out, and Hong Kong and London on the way back, but the green light was still given.

“I was so looking forward to getting there but I was very anxious about travelling on my own as well. I didn’t really know what to expect because it was all so new, but it was more excitement than nerves.”

Rod Ashman, a former player and club employee, collected him at the airport and put him up on his first night. He took in a reserve team match the next day and the Carlton-North Melbourne derby the day after.

Due to stay in a hotel, Tuohy found himself kipping instead at the houses of various players. Setanta and Aisake Ó hAilpín’s pad was a regular haunt and the Cork lads made sure he saw some of Melbourne too.

Carlton have had ample practice welcoming Irish boys to the fold — Michael Shields wasn’t long back in Cork at the time of his visit — and Tuohy knows that the picture may not be so rosy at every AFL club.

“They really do have it down to a tee. All of the Irish guys who have gone to that club have gone as a result of Gerard. He knows the situation. He has been over and back to Ireland a number of times.

“The club is really well equipped to cope with Irish lads coming over and starting from scratch. I was fortunate going to Carlton. You wouldn’t know what to expect from some other clubs.”

Tuohy can only speak for himself but he isn’t unaware of the wider story here. People up and down the land have been screaming blue murder about the so-called ‘player drain’ to Australia, and the chorus will grow louder next month when the International Rules series reconvenes.

Laois, in particular, has been raked with a fine-tooth comb for budding young stars. Colm Begley is three years with Brisbane Lions, while Brendan Quigley and Conor Meredith have both spent time with clubs as well.

Other names have been mentioned besides and, while supporters in the county would obviously prefer the players remain at home, there’s been little evidence of ill-will towards youngsters grasping an opportunity.

“I have never got anything but encouragement from anyone in my family, my club or in any Laois team I played with. No-one has ever seemed to begrudge the fact that I got this opportunity or that I took it. I’m sure there are some people who feel that way, but certainly no-one I am involved with.”