Just wondering if anyone else has noticed this recent trend or is it just me? Players who have gone to aussie rules as extremely talented GAA prospects have struggled to adapt to football on their return. the most recent cases being Caolan Mooney and Tommy Walsh but they're not alone. Kevin Dyas was a much brighter prospect when he left for Collingwood and Colm Begley has hardly set the world on fire for Laois since his return from Down Under. I'm sure there are more.

gonearethedays (Down) - Posts: 2 - 09/06/2015 17:38:05    1734783

Yea, interesting point. I was very excited at the prospect of Mooney coming back to Down, but it just didn't happen for him on Sunday.

Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1550 - 09/06/2015 19:59:07    1734844

I think a lot of the lads who went to the AFL were of the sort that were early developers in the physical sense so that they stood out much more at underage level.

Now they are back and they don't have the same physical advantages as they had underage (not saying they weren't/aren't good footballers but that they were all pretty much early developers and this made them stand out much more at underage)

besidetheditch (Dublin) - Posts: 81 - 09/06/2015 20:16:56    1734852

You go away in a blaze of glory & come back a failure.

It is bound to be hard to pick up the pieces.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 09/06/2015 20:20:20    1734856

To be honest if I seen McKenna come back home from Aus I'd welcome him back with open arms. As for Mooney I remember watching him in the McCrory cup final the year they beat St Pats Dgn He was outstanding and i think its great to have him back playing Gaelic.

Personally I dont think theres anything wrong with young players going to Aus to try get a better life. They have to make a living as well as anyone else. If you can do it playing sorts let them go. There has been some success stories as well as so called failures

Find_the_space (Tyrone) - Posts: 313 - 09/06/2015 22:01:07    1734936

Absolutely I agree, nothing wrong with young fellas seeking a career in professional sports, good luck to them! all I'm saying is that recently those who have returned for whatever reason are not the same players they were beforehand. of course there are success stories Tadgh Kennelly being the perfect example along with Pearse Hanley. it's a pity though to see some struggle to adapt when they return to football. might make some fellas think twice about going in the first place.

gonearethedays (Down) - Posts: 2 - 10/06/2015 08:09:14    1734937

Same as most 'outstanding' underage players, usually years ahead physically than those they play against which made them stand out beit pace, height, strength or endurance. Come the age of 21+ these physical attributes are usually evened out.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 10/06/2015 09:01:07    1734960

In fairness, the likes of Michael Shields and Ciarán Kilkenny haven't done too badly, though in the latter case, he was hardly away. I would definitely take one or both of the Hanleys back in a heart beat; I always thought that Pearse Hanley could have made a difference to our forward line over the past few years, especially in 2013 final, when we badly needed an outlet other than Andy Moran.

I imagine it's probably very difficult to adjust to nine to five life after tasting professional sport (lots of retired footballers in England say the same). Especially so in Ireland, which is a "shame society", in which people who didn't make it abroad often set themselves up for ridicule.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 10/06/2015 09:19:59    1734971

Ciaran Kilkenny seems to be struggling. Seems like a have funny way of kicking the ball. Bernie Collins was a great prospect for Cork 15 years ago went to Oz for a year or two and was never the same footballer

HughHunt24 (Cork) - Posts: 841 - 12/06/2015 13:20:10    1736021

Ah, that's a bit harsh. Clarke was unbelievable in 2010. Kennelly was an important player for Kerry in 2009 even if he did sully the whole thing with the Nicholas Murphy incident. Paul Cribben has done well for us. Shields, Heslin and Murphy have hardly struggled since returning also. They're not all going to come back and be marquee forwards.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 12/06/2015 14:15:32    1736054

Kilkenny is only back after a cruciate injury and wasn't in Australia very long anyway. He looks to have bulked up a bit too much to my eyes. He was one of the best minors I have ever seen but has yet to live up to that huge potential as a senior footballer.

beir_bua (Kildare) - Posts: 746 - 12/06/2015 14:28:09    1736059

Can add John Heslin Westmeath to the list.Gave a great performance last sunday

HughHunt24 (Cork) - Posts: 841 - 04/07/2015 20:50:40    1747516

Mickie Quinn say's hello

MartinGerard (Longford) - Posts: 275 - 05/07/2015 12:53:55    1747667

Paul Cribbin is doing well for us and is getting better all the time. Hurley came back a couple of years ago but didn't really deliver on his promise, maybe when he returns next time!

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1700 - 05/07/2015 17:06:08    1747799