The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘Lure of AFL a challenge’
WITH Dingle’s Deividas Uosis impressing in the AFL’s Europe Combine held in UCD last Friday and Saturday, Kerry County Committee Chairman Tim Murphy is fully aware of the challenge that the Kingdom continues to face in preventing players from being drawn to the lure of professional sport in Australia.
Kerry’s 2017 All-Ireland minor-winning goalkeeper, Uosis, impressed last weekend, clocking 2.76 seconds in the 20 metre sprint, coming fourth in the agility test, and performing strongly in the endurance test at the trials in Dublin, potentially opening up the possibility of joining his club colleague, Mark O’Connor, and Na Gaeil’s Stefan Okunbor in plying their sporting trade down under.
Addressing last night’s County Convention at the Rose Hotel in Tralee, the county chairman understands that it’s extremely difficult to stop players from trying their hand at forging a career in sport when they get the opportunity.
“The lure of AFL Professional Sport continues to be a huge challenge for us. A voluntary organisation such as the GAA simply cannot compete with professional sport,” said Murphy.
“The AFL and their scouts continue to seek out the best of our football talent and you will all be aware of recent media coverage of the AFL Europe Combine held last weekend.
“We are doing everything in our power to create and maintain as attractive an environment as possible here at home and convey to our players the benefits of remaining in
Ireland while also assisting them with educational opportunities, career advice and enhanced employment prospects.
“The committee specifically dealing with this issue will continue in their endeavours to ensure that all other players considering a move are given the benefit of choosing an attractive alternative to remain here at home,” stressed the Brosna man.
Murphy also agreed with secretary Peter Twiss’ concerns about the relative lack of players on the Kerry senior football panel from the northern half of the county and said that a committee will be established to attempt to improve the situation.
“There is definitely an imbalance here that needs to be addressed,” said the chairman.
“In 2018, Coaching and Games began a pilot project with St Michael’s College in Listowel in an effort to improve the links between our clubs and our schools in the region. The initiative is gaining traction and is one which we intend on developing in other schools in North Kerry over the coming year.
“It is my intention to set up a committee specifically charged with progressing this initiative, which needs to be underpinned through engagement with the clubs, district boards, GDAs and club coaches of the region as well as broadening the number of schools involved.
“North Kerry has, over the years, produced some of Kerry’s greatest footballers, so it is incumbent on us to closely examine the issues with all the relevant stakeholders and devise a strategy to address the current situation,” said Murphy.