Carlton hold trials to find Ireland’s next AFL starlet

AFL club Carlton moved Setanta Ó hAilpín on this week but they are continuing their commitment to the so-called “Irish experiment” by holding a trial at the University of Limerick on Saturday morning.

The Melbourne-based outfit have invited around 10 players to the trial, as a result of some extensive scouting in Ireland during the summer.

While the age profile of the trialists is young and most are underage stars, some already have senior inter-county experience.

It is believed two Kildare players with senior championship game time under their belts will be attending the trial, buoyed by positive reports from minor team-mate Paul Cribbin, who has completed his first season with Collingwood.

The Blues have kept tabs on the Irish market since signing Ó hAilpín at the end of 2003. His younger brother Aisake joined subsequently, while Michael Shields also spent a brief period with the club and Ciarán Sheehan accepted an offer of a two-year contract initially before having a change of heart.

Meanwhile, Ó hAilpín remains confident he will secure a new employer in the AFL draft at the end of the season, with his agent, Michael Quinlan arguing there was more improvement in the 28-year-old.

“Setanta is very matter-of-fact about it,” said Quinlan.

“That’s what happens, we deal with it and we look at our opportunities. We definitely feel he’s got plenty more to offer and even more development left in his game.

“We haven’t got a bloke who is shattered, thinking his career is over. We’re looking at him continuing, for sure.”

The contrasting fortunes of the Irish down under continued to be illustrated yesterday though as Derryman Chris McKaigue became the latest GAA recruit to be delisted.

As Sydney Swans welcomed Tommy Walsh into the fold, they confirmed McKaigue had not been offered a new contract after the conclusion of his initial two-year term.

The Slaughtneil clubman, who was named in the International Rules extended training panel, has been unable to create a positive enough impression and is back in Ireland, seemingly certain to resume with Derry.

With Down’s Jamie O’Reilly also let go by Richmond and Tadhg Kennelly having retired, the number of Irish players currently contracted by AFL clubs is currently reduced to nine, despite the fact that Martin Clarke, Caolan Mooney (both Collingwood) and John Heslin (Richmond) will join the ranks for pre-season training next month.