Bastick upbeat for Kilkenny going Down Under

DUBLIN DUAL player Ciarán Kilkenny returned this week from a trial period in Australia with the Carlton Blues.

With Pat Gilroy’s successor as Dublin football manager expected to be appointed in October, it leaves a period of uncertainty whether Kilkenny can be enticed to stay in Ireland and continue playing Gaelic games or sign professional terms with the AFL outfit.

“I wouldnt expect anyone to stick around when there are offers like that on the table,” said Dublin team-mate Denis Bastick yesterday. “Any of the guys who have gone over there have got great coaching, great training and come back better players and he is so young he could do that and still come back and win an All-Ireland with Dublin in a few years.

“He would be a huge loss to Dublin but there are guys ready to step in there.”

Kilkenny made an instant impact this season when promoted to Gilroy’s senior panel from the All-Ireland-winning under-21s, starting against Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final on September 2nd after Alan Brogan’s groin injury kept the 2011 footballer of the year benched.

Kilkenny kicked 0-3 from play and supplied Bernard Brogan with the best goal chance of the match.

The obvious comparison for Kilkenny’s potential career path would be Kerry’s Tommy Walsh, the loss of whom was keenly felt this summer as Kerry were beaten by Cork in Munster and by Donegal in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

“He is the kind of guy who is going to come back in a few years and steady up the team,” Bastick continued.

“You couldn’t be expecting guys like that to stick around. I wish him all the best if he does go.”

Bastick believed the arrival of Kilkenny and other under-21 players into the Dublin panel this summer was a huge boost, but equally believes he and a number of senior players still have something to offer in 2013.

“Definitely, seeing those guys come in was an eye opener. To come in and the way they conducted themselves, it was quite scary actually being one of the older ones but a great boost to us.

“These guys are holding their own with fellas. I don’t think when I came onto the panel first in I was anywhere near as close to where they are now or as confident or as good as they are.

“I wouldn’t be happy to finish out my career on that note so definitely feel there is more left in the tank. There are more wins in that team. It is a great team to be involved with. I think there is definitely more All-Ireland’s in it.”

Bastick went back to college yesterday, the 31-year-old Bank of Ireland employee started a two-year part-time MBA at Dublin City University. Former Dublin footballer Jason Sherlock also took up a scholarship but neither will be eligible for the Sigerson Cup team.

Every morning since Mayo beat Dublin he considers what might have been.

“You think about it every day. It’s not going to go away that quick. We’re disappointed in the performance. We felt there was a lot more in the team and not to put it out there on the day is very difficult to take.

“You can’t give a team a 10-point lead and then expect to win the game. It’s too much for us to claw back.”

Did Dublin, ultimately, under-perform as All-Ireland champions?

“When you say we were within a kick of a ball of reaching an All-Ireland final and not particularly playing quite well that gives us a lot of hope going forward. No, it comes down to little things. Flynner hitting the crossbar. Things like that change a game. Last year things like that went in our favour. This year they didn’t.

“I think the team are good enough to be in the running again. We are that close. If little things go right we can make our mark again soon.”

PJ O’Mullan, manager of All-Ireland club hurling champions Loughgiel Shamrocks, has pulled out of the race for the Antrim hurling manager’s job.

O’Mullan had been touted as favourite to land the position but has cited “personal reasons” for his withdrawal.

He is due to get married next summer and feels that he would not be able to give the county post sufficient time because of this.