Sheehan scotches AFL claims and commits to Rebels again

CORK football star Ciarán Sheehan has denied rumours that he is set to join AFL club Carlton Blues in 2012.

Stories in recent days suggested that Carlton’s general manager of football operations, Steven Icke, had confirmed the move, with Sheehan apparently set to travel to Australia next October after the 2011 GAA season ends.

While the Éire Óg player spent four weeks on trial with Carlton last year before returning home again and joining the Cork senior panel, he does not see himself returning to the Melbourne club.

“There’s no truth in the rumours,” he said yesterday.

“I met Steven Icke of Carlton when he was in Ireland for the International Rules series last month and basically I was offered the chance to go there for 2012.

“I told them I felt I wasn’t ready to go to Australia and that my future lay with Cork.

“I’m not really sure where this current rumour has come from.”

Having been in Dublin yesterday for remedial work, the 20-year-old Cork IT sports marketing student is now hopeful of getting back on track as he helps the Rebels defend the All-Ireland football title for the first time since 1991.

“I had surgery to repair some cartilage in my knee but it’s nothing major,” he said.

“I’ll be back in training when we return from the team holiday to South Africa in the new year, ready to focus on the coming season.”

Meanwhile, Rebels dual star Eoin Cadogan has given the county a massive boost by committing himself to both football and hurling action for yet another year.

Despite the huge physical demands placed on Cadogan this year by his non-stop schedule, the Douglas club man says he has not lost any of his enthusiasm or appetite for his dual role at inter-county level.

“I fully enjoyed playing hurling and football for Cork this year, and the plan is do the same in 2011,” said Cadogan.

“Things worked out very well for me with regard to playing both sports this year and I see no reason why the same situation should not apply next year as well.

“Of course, playing with both teams would not be possible without all the help, support and cooperation I’ve received from both Conor (Counihan) and Denis (Walsh), and I’ve already talked to both managers about 2011.

“Once again they said they’ll try to facilitate me as much as possible, and I’m very grateful and appreciative of that.”