A signal of intent as Setanta gets off to a flyer

IT COULDN’T have been more fitting as an Aussie Rules season that shapes up to have a greater Irish influence than ever before, kicked off last night with one of our exports providing the opening night fireworks.

Setanta O hAilpín – along with Tadhg Kennelly – will be one of the two figureheads for a historic Irish invasion of the AFL this term and at a jam-packed MCG, the Corkman grabbed the headlines for all the right reasons.

After a pre-season littered with expert opinions that now is the time for O hAilpín to emerge and prove his true worth, he produced a stellar performance for the Carlton Blues, as they kicked off the campaign by annihilating Richmond Tigers by 56 points in front of over 72,000 at the home of Australian sport.