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Cathal McShane Going To The AFL?

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Replying To mayotyroneman:  "Is there actually any substance to this story. A guy writing a blog in Tyrone put this up on Wednesday. Because of the lack of sports news out there all the national media and social media outlets were all over it and a few ex Tyrone players threw in their tuppence worth
However there has been no comment from the player himself, from Mickey Harte, or from the county board.
All seems very odd."
That would be funny if it was all a load of rubbish and I really hope it is as he'd be an awful loss to the Gaa.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 04/01/2020 11:48:30    2257253

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Im sure you guys know that there is also an AFL league in Ireland and also a national team? (not the compromise rules rubbish)
I dont know of any lads that play in it that have been approached by the big AFL clubs. Marty Clarke had played the odd game and McKenna had trained a couple of times before he went to Essendon.

paddyirishman (Antrim) - Posts: 10 - 04/01/2020 12:29:39    2257263

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Replying To mayotyroneman:  "Is there actually any substance to this story. A guy writing a blog in Tyrone put this up on Wednesday. Because of the lack of sports news out there all the national media and social media outlets were all over it and a few ex Tyrone players threw in their tuppence worth
However there has been no comment from the player himself, from Mickey Harte, or from the county board.
All seems very odd."
Well now, Mickey Harte, the Tyrone county board and team members have a reputation for not doing media interviews. If there was no truth in it, surely the player himself would be first off the blocks to deny it.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2011 - 04/01/2020 14:59:53    2257293

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Replying To mayotyroneman:  "Is there actually any substance to this story. A guy writing a blog in Tyrone put this up on Wednesday. Because of the lack of sports news out there all the national media and social media outlets were all over it and a few ex Tyrone players threw in their tuppence worth
However there has been no comment from the player himself, from Mickey Harte, or from the county board.
All seems very odd."
It was on www.teamtalkmag.com

That is the biggest GAA site in Tyrone, and has been for many years. They have reports and interviews on everything do with Tyrone GAA, commentate on 100s of game annually, host the annual Tyrone All-Stars etc. It's a professional business, and is as much of a 'guy writing a blog' as Hoganstand is.

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 04/01/2020 17:27:24    2257325

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Replying To Thomas Clarke:  "It was on www.teamtalkmag.com

That is the biggest GAA site in Tyrone, and has been for many years. They have reports and interviews on everything do with Tyrone GAA, commentate on 100s of game annually, host the annual Tyrone All-Stars etc. It's a professional business, and is as much of a 'guy writing a blog' as Hoganstand is."
It's a blog run by an ex Tyrone player. The fact that there has been no comment from mcshane or Harte would raise enough questions than answers. However many media outlets appear to have jumped the gun on this one. If the story is true fair enough but we are now 4 days into the revalation and no official comment from anyone..seems a bit odd?

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 04/01/2020 20:54:32    2257391

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Replying To mayotyroneman:  "It's a blog run by an ex Tyrone player. The fact that there has been no comment from mcshane or Harte would raise enough questions than answers. However many media outlets appear to have jumped the gun on this one. If the story is true fair enough but we are now 4 days into the revalation and no official comment from anyone..seems a bit odd?"
Oh I detest it when you doubt the veracity of stories. Why is this? If Cathal McShane wants to leave say bye bye

leitrim4live (Leitrim) - Posts: 49 - 04/01/2020 21:11:41    2257400

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Replying To sam1884:  "Kerry have won one senior All Ireland in a decade and even that was unexpected and a bit of a steal with that year's semi final and goalkeeper error in the final. Kerry players were obviously right to jump last decade as they predicted correctly they wouldn't miss out on an All Ireland - confirms my point. Yes Kennelly left years ago but even he came back home to win an All Ireland. Kerry look in better shape at the minute which might explain why players who would obviously make it in the AFL are currently staying at home."
Even in retrospect you don't seem to be able to get things right!
Kerry got to the semi-final in 7 of the 10 years and to the final 4 times. So, any Kerry player who 'jumped' at the beginning of the decade would have missed a lot of high class action. In fact, only a Dublin or possibly a Mayo 'jumper' would have missed out more.

And recent Kerry 'jumper' Mark O Connor hardly left because he thought Kerry would not feature at a high level; in fact, some argue that had he stayed Kerry might have won the AI in 2019.

The reasons for leaving are complex and rarely, if ever, relate to the prospects of a player's county.

Aibrean (Kerry) - Posts: 335 - 05/01/2020 16:43:11    2257547

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Clearly given an offer he couldn't refuse. At the top of his game both physically and performance wise and if it doesn't work out for him he'll probably have the option to come home within the year.

AFL looking at "older" GAA players now. Mayo's Matthew Ruane around the same age as McShane took part in trials recently and will apparently be invited over to Australia in April."
It's interesting alright. I remember reading an interview recently with Caolan Mooney , where he basically said that had he been a few years older when he went over and had his college experience behind him, he felt that it would have worked out a lot better for himself. Mooney left due to homesickness with a year left on his contract. Maybe this is something the AFL are looking into more. Mooney recently nominated himself again for the AFL draft a few months ago.

McShane is what , 23/24 with 5 years inter county football under his belt. He's a qualified teacher. He has that bit of a safety net. He has a Sigerson , All Ireland u-21, 2 x Ulsters , an All Star. He took part in trials back in 2014 or 2015 so it's not entirely new to him either. He has nothing to lose from going out and if it doesn't work out, he'll still only be 25/26 . A huge loss to Tyrone if true, but best of luck to him.

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 523 - 05/01/2020 18:58:33    2257587

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Replying To mayotyroneman:  "It's a blog run by an ex Tyrone player. The fact that there has been no comment from mcshane or Harte would raise enough questions than answers. However many media outlets appear to have jumped the gun on this one. If the story is true fair enough but we are now 4 days into the revalation and no official comment from anyone..seems a bit odd?"
Harte was speaking on BBC NI after the Mckenna Cup game today, and confirmed Mcshane was going out for 10 to 12 days to see how he got on and if it was for him.
You'll find the link twitter.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2874 - 05/01/2020 19:00:31    2257588

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "Harte was speaking on BBC NI after the Mckenna Cup game today, and confirmed Mcshane was going out for 10 to 12 days to see how he got on and if it was for him.
You'll find the link twitter."
"he has not made a final decision one way or the other"...quote from mickey harte in that interview. Thats a long way from McShane having signed for Brisbane, which has been reported on many media outlets.
Also Harte makes reference to ex GAA players working in Ireland as scouts for the AFL. Who are these players?..they should be named. It doesn't make sense that we have GAA members working to undermine our game, and also that we continue to work with the Australians on a hybrid game which serves no purpose. We in the GAA are very much in a LOSE LOSE situation as Harte rightly points out. Fair play to him to continue to stand up to vested interests.

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 05/01/2020 19:28:15    2257593

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Replying To mayotyroneman:  ""he has not made a final decision one way or the other"...quote from mickey harte in that interview. Thats a long way from McShane having signed for Brisbane, which has been reported on many media outlets.
Also Harte makes reference to ex GAA players working in Ireland as scouts for the AFL. Who are these players?..they should be named. It doesn't make sense that we have GAA members working to undermine our game, and also that we continue to work with the Australians on a hybrid game which serves no purpose. We in the GAA are very much in a LOSE LOSE situation as Harte rightly points out. Fair play to him to continue to stand up to vested interests."
Marty Clarke is a scout for the AFL and iirc Ciaran Byrne is involved as well in some capacity, there may be others too.

Tadhg Kennelly was a talent scout for the AFL as well for a while but he has moved on to a coaching role with the Swans now afaik

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2113 - 05/01/2020 20:31:17    2257609

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Replying To GeniusGerry:  "Marty Clarke is a scout for the AFL and iirc Ciaran Byrne is involved as well in some capacity, there may be others too.

Tadhg Kennelly was a talent scout for the AFL as well for a while but he has moved on to a coaching role with the Swans now afaik"
Clarke and Byrne should hang their heads in shame...these men are not Gaels..Harte is right..time to cut all ties with this outfit now.

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 05/01/2020 22:58:56    2257639

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Replying To GeniusGerry:  "Marty Clarke is a scout for the AFL and iirc Ciaran Byrne is involved as well in some capacity, there may be others too.

Tadhg Kennelly was a talent scout for the AFL as well for a while but he has moved on to a coaching role with the Swans now afaik"
Clarke and Byrne should hang their heads in shame...these men are not Gaels..Harte is right..time to cut all ties with this outfit now.

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 05/01/2020 23:02:57    2257641

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Replying To mayotyroneman:  "Clarke and Byrne should hang their heads in shame...these men are not Gaels..Harte is right..time to cut all ties with this outfit now."
The reality is that the AFL is giving good young GAA players a shot at earning a great living playing a sport that is not a million miles removed from the one they grey up playing and loving. Who is doing the recruitment is immaterial imo. If Marty Clarke gives it up somebody will replace him.

As more and more lads move over I think people will be interested to see how they go and the AFL could become quite popular, especially if one of the FTA broadcasters picks it up. The problem (if it is a problem, not everyone agrees it is) is not going away any time soon.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2113 - 06/01/2020 00:09:22    2257651

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Yeah, it's such a crime to give players a chance to be a professiona.. It's like being offered a better job, you would be foolish to not consider it.

Compensating the GAA would probaly be an alternative but that's not straight forward as its an Amateur organisation.. And it wouid be be club, County and maybe another fund to compensate.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2874 - 06/01/2020 00:19:08    2257653

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Should be an immediate end to the compromise rules games.

burger_expert (Leitrim) - Posts: 11 - 06/01/2020 08:06:28    2257663

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Replying To burger_expert:  "Should be an immediate end to the compromise rules games."
What difference will that make though. Lets be honest just because we stop playing a pretty pointless game wont stop scouts coming over. Cant think of any player that played compromise rules first before been scouted in that game to get an offer for AFL.

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1205 - 06/01/2020 11:14:51    2257698

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Replying To burger_expert:  "Should be an immediate end to the compromise rules games."
It's a bit late now I'd say as the horse has bolted and the gaa have to look as if they're OK that their best blue chip players are going down under, they're nearly as bad as FG going commemorating the black and tans and RIC.

This country is going down the pan big time.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 06/01/2020 11:22:11    2257702

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Replying To sourmilk93:  "What difference will that make though. Lets be honest just because we stop playing a pretty pointless game wont stop scouts coming over. Cant think of any player that played compromise rules first before been scouted in that game to get an offer for AFL."
Oh don't be sour

leitrim4live (Leitrim) - Posts: 49 - 06/01/2020 12:41:08    2257728

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "It's a bit late now I'd say as the horse has bolted and the gaa have to look as if they're OK that their best blue chip players are going down under, they're nearly as bad as FG going commemorating the black and tans and RIC.

This country is going down the pan big time."
I'd say if it were Dublin players going down under there would be a change. GAA couldn't have all the millions they pump into it going to waste by developing players for Australia. Wouldn't make good business sense surely.

leitrim4live (Leitrim) - Posts: 49 - 06/01/2020 12:44:00    2257729

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