Eyes are opened to a whole new world

International Rules: Producers of the Channel 4 television programme A New Life Down Under would kill to have a story like Tadhg Kennelly's to show their viewers.

He signed for Sydney Swans five years ago as a raw 18-year-old and is now one of the Australian Football League's most consistent performers. Kennelly had never been on a plane until he emigrated and like a lot of teenagers his knowledge of Australia was gleaned from television programmes.

He is now regarded as the country's best sporting import since Jim Stynes took the AFL by storm.

Tonight, Kennelly will run out on to the pitch at the former Olympic Stadium as the Swans tackle the Perth-based West Coast Eagles for a place in the AFL's last four. Victory would cap a marvellous week that has seen him picked for Ireland again and his former Kerry team-mates reach yet another All-Ireland final.

"Playing for Ireland feeds the hunger in me because I don't get to play Gaelic football very often," said Kennelly as he prepared for the short drive back to his Sydney home after a final training session at the Telstra Stadium.

"I do have Australian citizenship, but there was never a chance in the world that I would play against Ireland. Getting citizenship was something I wanted to do for my future.

"This is a strong and experienced Ireland panel and without a doubt we are good enough to win the series. I know Australia are bringing a very good squad and a few of their guys are nearing the end of their careers here so it will be their last chance to play for their country. It's going to be ultra-competitive."

He admits to being somewhat surprised by the success of the so-called "smaller counties" in this year's All-Ireland football series, though his faith in his native Kerry never wavered.

"I've backed the boys all the way from the start and I'm delighted they've made it through. I have to say if you look at the run of games Mayo have had, they've had it tougher than Kerry and they've put away some quality teams.

"Playing in an All-Ireland final is a big stage on a big day and hopefully the experience will stand to Kerry. Darragh Ó Sé's injury will be a massive issue because he commands so much respect and has so much authority on the pitch.

"I think Kerry's half-forwards will be under huge scrutiny to get in and get the breaks, though Eoin Brosnan can come out and overall Kerry have plenty of options."

Kennelly admits he has heard the rumours about him possibly making a sensational return to the Kerry squad but dismisses them instantly.

"That's just mad speculation. I've a job to do out here for the Swans and anyway, I can't just expect to walk into an All-Ireland final. No chance."

The AFL is also nearing its climax and the Swans have reached the last eight and look a good bet to progress tonight at the expense of the Eagles. So what do Australians make of this straight-talking Kerryman? Top Aussie broadcaster Steve Price, who appears on Channel 7's popular Talking Footy Show, rates him as one of the "best 50 players in Australia".

"I have to say Tadhg Kennelly is very impressive indeed," said Price. "He has this innate ability to keep the ball moving forward and that is something he surely got from his Gaelic days.

"He's as good as we've seen from Ireland since Jim Stynes came over here. Tadhg has held his place in a team that could go all the way to the Grand Final and given that this is really only his second full season at the highest level he is doing superbly well."

The Kerryman's successful transition to Aussie Rules means a host of AFL clubs will be sending scouts to Croke Park for next month's two Tests.

Kennelly added: "I know Irish lads that have been spoken to in the past few months. That's great for the AFL, but not so good for Gaelic football if they are going to lose their stars to another game. It's hard to knock a lad who wants to try this. The experience is unbelievable.

"To be a professional athlete is just something else. At home, the physical rigours of GAA were the same as AFL, but you still had to get up in the morning and go to work. I had to leave my family behind to come here, but my eyes were opened up to a whole new world.

"I hope there are more young Irish lads looking at how I'm getting on and thinking about coming out here as well."

Kingdom fans will no doubt be curious to hear what Kennelly's future plans are. Their loss was most definitely Sydney's gain, so will he ever wear the famous green-and-gold of Kerry again? His response, like his AFL tackles, is rapid. "I will play for Kerry again one day, that's for sure. It's something I was brought up to do. I always wanted to follow my father and play for the Kingdom. It meant the world to me and still does."

Given his success in Australia and his emergence as one of the stars of the AFL, quite when he will want to return to Ireland is anyone's guess.

Australia has always been a land of opportunity and welcome, especially so if you happen to be Irish. If you also have the skill, strength and stamina of Tadhg Kennelly, even better.