GAELIC GAMES:A SIMPLE twist of fate has helped Kerry safeguard the future of two of their most exciting football talents - Tommy Walsh and David Moran - at least for another season. When Moran kicked a superb equaliser for Kerins O'Rahillys in last Sunday's county final to deny Mid Kerry, he didn't realise in doing so he'd also denied himself and Walsh the chance to attend their scheduled trial with Australia Football League (AFL) club St Kilda.
Moran and Walsh, both just turned 20, were due to travel to Australia early next week to attend the trial, but with the county final replay put back to Sunday week, November 30th, at the request of Rahillys due to their particularly demanding schedule of the last month, both players won't now get the try-out with the club before the December 2nd deadline for AFL international draft nominations.
O'Rahillys club chairman Seán Kissane said last night Walsh and Moran were staying around for the replay, meaning any potential recruitment into the AFL won't come until later next year, if at all: "No, they're not going anywhere," said Kissane. "Not before the replay anyway. Straightaway after the drawn match they committed to us they'd be still be here, and in fairness, those two would never let us down."
Moran's performance in the drawn game, where he hit 0-4, and also that of Walsh, who scored a goal, merely underlined their huge potential and there was widespread disappointment in Kerry last week when their mooted move to Australia first came into the public domain.
"David had a fantastic game, particularly in the second half," added Kissane, "and I have no doubt he will be the future of Kerry football. And we were always going to look for the extra week. We had played six matches in seven weeks, including replays, and they were all championship matches. We still have two league matches to play as well, with the chance of making that final, and with six other teams looking to make it."
For Walsh, it's the second time club commitments have forced him to opt out of an Australian trip as he was also due to travel with the Ireland team for last month's International Rules series, only to surrender his place when O'Rahillys drew their semi-final against South Kerry.
The delay in concluding the county final also means Jack O'Connor, who is set to return to the Kerry management position, will be keeping his mind on club matters for the time being, while inevitably relieved perhaps more than anyone in Kerry that Walsh and Moran will remain at his service for next season.
AFL agent Ricky Nixon had described Walsh as one of the best football talents he'd ever seen and reportedly went to considerable lengths to convince him to try out with St Kilda. However, he also conceded yesterday time had come against the players and there was simply no time left to make the trial.
"They wanted to come to Australia to have a look at training with AFL clubs, but it's probably going to have to be next year," he said.
St Kilda representative Matthew Drain also concluded the current timeframe made it impractical for the players to travel: "That's probably the bottom line," said Drain. "If they're not here in time for the rules, as they currently stand, then we can't do anything about it. To sign them virtually off the plane I think would be unfair on them and their families, and I don't think from the longer term, in terms of the relationship with Gaelic football full-stop, that's the right thing to do."
