Castleknock hopeful Kilkenny will return

Leinster champions Castleknock could have AFL tyro Ciarán Kilkenny available for next month’s All-Ireland JFC club quarter-final against St Peter’s of Manchester.

The former Dublin minor star yesterday commenced pre-season training with Melbourne outfit Hawthorn, impressing his new bosses on his first day of training.

However, Castleknock are now investigating if Kilkenny will be home from Australia and allowed to play with them in the last eight clash.

The two clubs have yet to agree on a date for the game.

Castleknock chairman Niall Tutty explained: “We’re not sure when Ciarán is actually coming home for his Christmas break, but obviously we’d love to have him for the All-Ireland quarter-final.

“There would be a better chance of Ciarán being available for us if the quarter-final were fixed for the weekend of December 15-16. However, at this stage we don’t know if Hawthorn would be agreeable to allowing Ciarán to play in the match if he were back home in time for it.

“As well, the weekend of December 15-16 would suit us better in terms of logistics as the (Premiership) Manchester derby (City v United) is fixed for the previous weekend (Sunday, December 9).

“Because of the Manchester derby, organising seats on flights for the team party and travelling club members would prove that much more difficult on the first weekend of the two.”

The west Dublin outfit already face one major concern prior to the quarter-final test, with this year’s county minor panellist Tom Quinn having suffered a jaw injury in the clash against St Fintan’s.

“Tom Quinn sustained a suspected fractured jaw in the match,” said Tutty, on the teenage wing-back who was forced to retire after just 19 minutes.

“He went to hospital immediately but fortunately an X-ray showed he hadn’t suffered a fracture. But he has some tooth damage and we don’t know yet if he will be able to play against St Peter’s.