Ó hAilpín stars in Carlton fightback

Former Cork All Star Setanta Ó hAilpín has given the most acclaimed performance of his 15-match AFL career for Carlton in last weekend's round three match of the Australian Rules premiership.

The match, against Essendon, is being described Down Under as one of the great comebacks in the sport's history.

Carlton trailed by 48 points at one stage of the second half before running out 125-122 winners.

Ó hAilpín was marking Essendon captain and star forward Matthew Lloyd, but was praised for his efforts, even during the first half when his team was being destroyed.

Tim Lane, a respected commentator, broadcaster and columnist with Melbourne's Age newspaper, dedicated his analysis of the match to the Cork man.

"His head did not drop and his aggressive attitude didn't falter. When an Ó hAilpín risk let Matthew Lloyd in for a goal, the Bomber skipper turned on a rare display of triumphalism.

"It was a sign the Essendon spearhead knew he was in a fight even if his team wasn't. Amid the first-half avalanche, Lloyd managed only two goals.

"If the Carlton charge ultimately came in the second half, the hurler from Cork showed in the first that it was possible. His opponent joined the all-time top-10 goalkickers' list on Saturday. It was not presumptuous to imagine he would be way too much for Ó hAilpín.

"Yet, while Brendan Fevola was kicking eight goals against two of the best full backs of the past decade, the Irishman, against the best full forward of the same period, was unlucky to concede five . . . it was a day to stamp the name Setanta Ó hAilpín as that of a real footballer, not just a curiosity."

There was more than one resonance for Irish followers in the match. Essendon are coached by Kevin Sheedy, who took charge of Australia in the past two international rules series and the main instrument of Carlton's comeback was forward Brendan Fevola who kicked eight goals.

Fevola was a member of Sheedy's squad for last year's controversial series in Ireland and got sent home after being seen on close-circuit television gripping in a headlock a barman in Galway city.