Castleknock chairman thrilled by Kilkenny’s Oz U-turn

Ciarán Kilkenny’s decision to stay in Ireland will ultimately be proved a correct one, according to his club chairman.

Kilkenny was due to fly back out to Australia today to continue pre-season training with AFL side Hawthorn but instead released a statement yesterday saying he will remain in Ireland to pursue his GAA career with Castleknock and Dublin.

“It’s a massive boost for the club,” says chairman Tutty. “We’re facing into the All-Ireland junior football semi-final [against Kenmare Shamrocks] on January 27 in Mitchelstown so we didn’t think we had Ciarán because he was due to go back to Australia [today]. We’re delighted with the news and we’re hopeful he’ll be available for that game.”

Tutty found out about Kilkenny’s decision through the same medium as most others: a statement released by the 19-year-old through his Twitter account @CKKilkenny93.

The chairman admitted he had been left shaking throughout the day upon hearing the news — understandable as it sees the return of the club’s biggest asset.

Kilkenny said in a statement: “As much as I enjoyed the lifestyle of a professional Aussie Rules player and relished the challenge of achieving in a different code, I realised that it would never matter as much to me as the sense of community and joy I get from togging out and playing alongside the people with whom I grew up and live.

“Achieving success and realising my potential as a hurler and footballer with my club and county will always be more important to me than any of the benefits to be obtained from professional sport.

“It may seem like a short time to spend in Australia but I have always given absolute commitment to any team in which I was involved and I feel it would be unfair on both Hawthorn and myself to continue in a situation where I am not 100% committed and happy in myself.”

It may be unfair to second-guess Kilkenny’s decision to remain in Ireland after such hiatus, but does Tutty feel homesickness was a factor?

“I couldn’t say,” Tutty admits. “I think Ciarán’s a very talented sportsperson, and obviously is very comfortable playing Gaelic [football] and hurling, and looked very comfortable playing Australian Rules, too. I think it’s a personal decision he has made. No matter where he set himself up, he would have become a success.”

Kilkenny last month spoke of how he hoped to get some VFL [Victorian Football League, essentially a reserves competition for the AFL] games under his belt early on before progressing to the first team in his maiden season Down Under. Just a month later, however, and he has changed paths.

Had Tutty been following Kilkenny’s progress at Hawthorn?

“We were just keeping updated on his progress through the social media, and he was only in pre-season training,” admits Tutty. “We were all aware that it is very intense training. But he did enjoy it and he did find it a good learning experience over there with those guys and in that sport.”

What is Castleknock’s gain is potentially Kenmare Shamrocks’ loss.

Tutty is unsure of how quickly Kilkenny will return to training and whether he will line out against the Munster JFC champions in the All-Ireland semi-final. Still, the club chairman is aware of the psychological impact their player’s return may have.

“I think it will be. We still know that it’s going to be a very difficult game but we’re delighted to have a first team player back in the squad and in the team,” Tutty says.

“The bottom line is that we’re delighted with the news and we’re looking up. The statement says a lot: for us, it endorses the Gaelic games in the club and the role of the GAA in the country. We’re over the moon and we’re just coming to terms with the news. We hope that he’ll slot back in to play the way he was up until he left.”