Ó hAilpín eager to impress

AUSTRALIAN RULES:SETANTA Ó hAILPÍN says he's "hell bent" on capitalising on a second bite of the cherry that has seen him go "full circle", bringing him back on the doorstep of where he was born.

Injuries allowing, Ó hAilpín has a tremendous opportunity in the coming season of joining Jim Stynes, Seán Wight and Tadhg Kennelly as the only Irish recruits to play 100 games in the AFL.

As it stands, this quartet represents the only ones to have played 50 games, although Martin Clarke stands on 46 ahead of his comeback with Collingwood.

Ó hAilpín played 80 times and scored 67 goals for Carlton but is sure to be relied upon more heavily by Greater Western Sydney in what is certain to be a difficult introduction to the league for the new franchise. “I was excited to get another opportunity, especially at a new club,” he said yesterday. “I was confident in getting picked up but I didn’t know who it was going to be. GWS really seemed keen so I was very happy.”

The 28-year-old former young hurler of the year has had knee surgery during the off-season and was expecting to resume light jogging yesterday. “To get this opportunity, I’ll be hell bent on making the most of it. I’ll be training as hard as I can in the pre-season and I’ll be ready to rock. I’m happy to play anywhere ‘Sheeds’ (head coach Kevin Sheedy) puts me.”

Ó hAilpín was speaking while at the Giants’ family day in Blacktown and recalled his “vague memories” of an early childhood spent nearby before the family decamped to Ireland.

“I suppose not many people know I was born in Bankstown. I lived in Greenacre. They’re telling me it’s 10 or 15 minutes from here.

“I grew up here, headed to Ireland, then to Melbourne. Now I’ve done the full circle. I remember my brothers playing rugby league growing up here.”

Seán Óg has spoken of his love of rugby league but became a hurling legend.