In what is a massive blow for Dublin GAA, up and coming Dublin dual star Ciaran Kilkenny is set to take up the offer of a contract with AFL side Carlton Blues.
Kilkenny stood out for the Dublin minor football and hurling sides as both reached All-Ireland finals earlier in the year. He was the top scorer for the footballers throughout their campaign and was one point off being the top scorer for the hurlers as well.
Apart from his scoring prowess, Kilkenny constantly stood out in general play as was earmarked in the capital as one of their main hopes for the future in both codes.
Reports of a possible move Down Under surfaced last month when it was widely revealed that Carlton had offered Kilkenny a two-year rookie contract that was set to be delayed until he completed his Leaving Cert exams next summer.
Last night, Tony Leen, sports editor of the Irish Examiner tweeted: “Dublin’s dual minor ace Ciaran Kilkenny likely to take up Aussie Rules contract with Carlton after completing his Leaving Cert. Big loss.”
If Kilkenny does pursue the option of a career in Aussie Rules, he will be following a path trodden by many of our brightest stars in the past.
Marty Clarke recently returned to Collingwood after coming home to play for Down for two years and he has been joined in Melbourne by highly rated youngster and fellow Down native Caolan Mooney, who is said to have made quite an impression on his new bosses.
Laois youngster Zach Tuohy currently plies his trade with Carlton, Setanta Ó hAilpín recently left the club to join Greater Western Sydney, while Michael Shields has also played for the Blues in the past.
Mayo’s Pearce Hanley (Brisbane Lions) and KerrymanTommy Walsh (Sydney Swans) have also adapted well to the oval ball game and if the recent International Series is anything to go by, they have been pumping plenty of iron in the gym as well.
The potential loss of Kilkenny will be mourned by many a Dublin GAA footballer, but he is free to pursue a career in professional sport if that is his wish. And when you consider the state the country is in at the moment and cast your eye at the rotten weather outside, could you blame him for heading off?
