Progress in Dancing With The Stars could decide O’Mahony’s Kerry future
AIDAN O’Mahony’s progress on the
Dancing With The Stars programme on RTE could decide whether or not he continues playing for Kerry this year.
The Rathmore man is currently spending three days a week in Wicklow rehearsing for the show, which airs on Sunday evenings, and says his Kerry football career could be determined by how he does on the show in the next couple of weeks.
Speaking to The Kerryman on Tuesday he said: “I’ve spoken to Eamonn (Fitzmaurice) before Christmas and I will talk to him again soon and together we will come to the right decision. At the moment my fitness is fine, physically I’m in great shape, but there’s a few others things to consider.
“I went into the show because after initially thinking no way was that for me, I thought it was right for me to try something completely different, outside my comfort zone, and I’m really enjoying it. It’s stressful and intense but great fun. I can’t dance and I certainly don’t expect to win it out, but this week the eliminations start, and that could make my decision much easier,” he said.
“If I go out (of the show) in the next week or two it would be easier to make a decision on going back (with Kerry). The dancing is great for keeping fit, and for the last few years I’ve a particular winter schedule anyway for keeping fit, and I’m in the gym every day when I’m above for the dancing.
“Fitness-wise I’m in good shape but I wouldn’t go back in with Kerry unless I can give it 150%. I don’t want to be just hanging around the set-up if I can’t make a real contribution. Whatever decision I come to it will be for the good of Kerry football, not me. I’m not going to hold out on making a decision, and I’m aware that Eamonn wants to try and tie things up by the end of January,” O’Mahony, who was named Footballer of the Year at the East Kerry All Stars last Friday, said.
“Kerry football is in a great place right now. There’s great young talent coming through and it’s great to see some of the under-21s getting their chance. There are no worries about Kerry right now, these are exciting times. But right now there are huge time commitments with the dancing,” he said.
O’Mahony, who will be 37 next June, and his wife are expecting their first child in March, he is currently studying for a Strength and Conditioning degree online, and he is also doing his day job as a garda. If his progress in the Dancing With
The Stars continues for a few more weeks it could be difficult, if not impossible, for him to continue into what would be a 14th season on the Kerry senior team.
A public vote will decide who stays and who goes on Dancing With The Stars, but Kerry support and votes for O’Mahony the dancer could inadvertently spell the end of O’Mahony the Kerry footballer.