Kilkenny has much to ponder for one so young

CIARÁN KILKENNY knows what it’s like to walk in Jesus Shuttlesworth’s shoes.

The 1998 Spike Lee written-and-directed movie He Got Game is about a superstar-in-waiting High School basketball player of that distinctive name (played by NBA guard Ray Allen).

It’s a tale about Shuttleworth pondering his future and how everyone around him – friends, family, team-mates, coaches, the media to randomers on the street – are desperate to know which university scholarship he will take up.

All Kilkenny wants to do this week is to finish his Leaving Cert history project and then slip into the assassin’s mindset so he can blitz Roscommon in Sunday’s All-Ireland Under-21 football final in Tullamore.

But the rest of us can’t help ourselves.

Where is he going after the Leaving Certificate? Will he be able to play for the Dublin Under-21 hurlers in the Leinster championship on the same day as English Paper One? What about Pat Gilroy’s senior football panel? Or Anthony Daly’s hurling pack? Or will he opt for the Carlton Blues and life as a professional Aussie Rules player?

“Sometimes it is a bit annoying. I would try and keep away from talking about GAA now these days, especially coming up to matches, I wouldn’t really want to talk about it, I’d prefer to just keep to myself, concentrate.

“Like, I would stay away from papers, facebook, twitter and stuff like that. Just keep away from all that stuff. Just concentrate on my game, visualise about that,” says Kilkenny.

The questions are put to this impressively mature teenager at a sponsors function, for Electric Ireland, in Dublin city yesterday.

Australia is the big issue. Like the great Jimmy Stynes, Kilkenny could be lost to Dublin Gaelic games before the senior ranks can witness his stunning array of skills.

“Like I’ve said to everyone, everything can wait until after the Leaving Cert. It is 50-50 at the moment. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and that’s one dream I have. Professional sports is obviously going to attract me as well,” he explains.

“Sometime between now and October I’ll go for a three-week trial over in Australia, see what it’s like over there and make my decision then.”

The original dream is to teach in a gaelscoil at primary level or perhaps a place like his own Scoil Chatríona on the Mobhi Road but the tractor beam of a professional sporting life is strong. He already carries the frame of a fully-developed pro.

“I don’t know, I’d like to win a few All-Irelands. It is a very tough decision to make but I’ve loads of time to think about it,” says Kilkenny.

His father, John, is the main adviser on all matters sport and life, especially when they intertwine. John played for Dublin and they’re also related to the great Galway footballer Seán Purcell.

His cousins Niamh and Orlaith play camogie for Galway, while Tipperary hurler Gearóid Ryan is also a blood relative. So it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn he’d like at least one shot at balancing life as a senior intercounty footballer and hurler.

“That’s a decision I would have to make with my dad. Personally, I’d like to try and do both. It’s hard to do both but I see Eoin Cadogan doing it. But whatever my dad says, he’s the main man!”

Last year he was poised to become a double minor All-Ireland winner, along with three team-mates, but Dublin lost both the football (to Tipperary) and hurling (to Galway) finals. It was devastating, especially the manner of the football defeat which he put down to “a bit of complacency”.

“It always comes up in conversation between me and the lads when we’re talking. How we lost. It always comes up and it’s hard to lose it but that’s sport. Beidh lá eile ag an bpaorach (power will have another day) as the seanfhocail says.

“Hopefully, on Sunday, I can get my All-Ireland medal,” he says.

After that, let Gilroy, Daly and, of course, dad John, sort it out amongst themselves because this week he has a history project to finish. It’s about the GAA around the time of the War of Independence. “As gaeilge as well.”

For those still wondering what all the fuss is about switch on TG4 this Sunday at 2pm.

He’s got game.