O'hAilpin's debut ends in defeat

Setanta Ó'hAilpín, back in his days with the Cork hurlers

Former Cork hurler Setanta Ó'hAilpín's Aussie Rules’ senior debut ended in defeat this morning as the Carlton Blues lost their season’s opener 86-66 to Geelong at the Optus Oval.

The 20-year-old, who has been in Australia barely three months, hit three kicks before being rested in the final quarter of the Wizard Home Loans Cup game. 

His second kick, his best, angled over 55 metres but his marker Matthew McCarthy did get the better of the rookie, kicking three goals off Ó’hAilpín, although the errors were more to do with the Irishman’s team mates than himself.

Blues coach Denis Pagan said afterwards: "Setanta becomes a regular AFL player and no one knows when that time is. There wouldn’t be too many people on the planet who could do what he has achieved today, coming from a different country and a different code in such a short space of time and we are all proud of him."

Ó'hAilpín said: “I’ll cherish this first game until I die. It’s a great club, I just love it here.” 

Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins