POL
29-01-2009, 10:09 AM
Interesting...
Kingdom lure brings Kennelly back home
Thursday, January 29, 2009
By Colm O'Connor
TADHG KENNELLY last night confirmed he is to quit Australian Rules Football and return to Kerry next week.
The Listowel native, the only Irish man to win an AFL Premiership medal, informed Sydney Swans officials of his decision to prematurely end his contract before the end of the season at a meeting in the city yesterday.
However the 28-year-old has downplayed suggestions that he is set for a sensational return to Jack O’Connor’s county squad on his return.
He revealed last night: “Yes, I’m coming back home next week.
“I have been thinking about moving home a bit more for the last six months.
“It has been well documented that my body has been through a lot in the last couple of seasons with knee and shoulder problems and while I’ve been recovering, I’ve had more time to weigh things up.
“Those injuries have certainly speeded up the process. It was going to happen anyway — my contract was up at the end of the season. But I wanted to go home fit and well.”
He admitted: “Things have changed here as well in the club. Teams have success and then things levels off. I miss my family and friends and am now looking forward to going home.”
Kennelly, who played minor and U-21 with the Kingdom, has made no secret of his desire to return home and win a senior medal with the county.
But last night, he was keen to deflect the issue of an imminent return to the county colours, following reports he had met with Jack O’Connor.
“My only focus at the moment is to get back playing with Listowel Emmetts with my brother Noel and my uncle Mickey. They won the North Kerry championship final at the weekend so things are on a high.
“Regarding the county, whatever happens after that happens. Would I like to play for Kerry? Of course I would, what footballer from Kerry wouldn’t? But I don’t have any God-given right to walk into any squad.”
Kennelly, whose late father Tim and brother Noel won Celtic Crosses with Kerry, said the Swans supported his decision.
“It wasn’t a shock to anyone. I have always been up front with them here. The club know all the sacrifices I have made, coming out here as a teenager, moving away from my family and returning after my father died.
“They have always been very supportive since I came out here in 1999 and they understand my reasons for leaving.”
Though satisfied he has made the correct decision, Kennelly said he had a number of sleepless nights before making his mind up.
“I am walking away from an awful lot,” he continued.
“There’s the money side of things, there’s the life as a professional sportsman, the weather, the city life of Sydney, all the friends that I’ve made.
“But as long as you realise what’s important in life, everything falls into place. My heart was not in it here anymore.
“At the end of day I wanted to do what is in my heart.”
But he added: “Sydney has been wonderful for me. I’m not going to drop everything and forget everything and everyone I’ve encountered over the last 10 years. I’m still going to keep in touch with the people here.”
Kennelly is returning to a country suffering an economic downturn and admits that joining the workforce after a decade as a professional footballer will be a challenge.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead, I’m working on it,” he admitted.
“I’ve a BA from my time here and a few things going on. I will work on that side of things when I get home. But if there is anyone out there wanting to offer me a job, tell them to give me a call!”
However Kennelly revealed that he is involved on a project with both the GAA and AFL.
He explained: “For the last six months I’ve been involved in a kind of ambassador role between the two organisations.
“I was one of the lucky players to have travelled out to a club who did everything possible to make the transition as smooth and painless as possible on and off the field.
“But there are so many others who have been unlucky.
“I want to help show that there are pitfalls for young players travelling out to work with clubs and players to see how this can be addressed to the benefit of everyone.”
He also aims to put his AFL experience to good use in developing GAA at grassroots level.
“It is so professional. There are so many things I want to bring back to help make GAA more attractive to youngsters than say soccer or rugby. I learnt so much and can’t wait to put it into practice.”
His mother Nuala will collect him from the airport on Tuesday — but even she won’t believe in his return until he steps into the arrivals hall.
“It’s quite funny. She has heard it time and again that I’ve been home.
“When I told her I was coming home she was like ‘yeah okay’. I don’t think she believed me. But having talked to my friends she very excited.”
http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=83158-qqqx=1.asp
Kingdom lure brings Kennelly back home
Thursday, January 29, 2009
By Colm O'Connor
TADHG KENNELLY last night confirmed he is to quit Australian Rules Football and return to Kerry next week.
The Listowel native, the only Irish man to win an AFL Premiership medal, informed Sydney Swans officials of his decision to prematurely end his contract before the end of the season at a meeting in the city yesterday.
However the 28-year-old has downplayed suggestions that he is set for a sensational return to Jack O’Connor’s county squad on his return.
He revealed last night: “Yes, I’m coming back home next week.
“I have been thinking about moving home a bit more for the last six months.
“It has been well documented that my body has been through a lot in the last couple of seasons with knee and shoulder problems and while I’ve been recovering, I’ve had more time to weigh things up.
“Those injuries have certainly speeded up the process. It was going to happen anyway — my contract was up at the end of the season. But I wanted to go home fit and well.”
He admitted: “Things have changed here as well in the club. Teams have success and then things levels off. I miss my family and friends and am now looking forward to going home.”
Kennelly, who played minor and U-21 with the Kingdom, has made no secret of his desire to return home and win a senior medal with the county.
But last night, he was keen to deflect the issue of an imminent return to the county colours, following reports he had met with Jack O’Connor.
“My only focus at the moment is to get back playing with Listowel Emmetts with my brother Noel and my uncle Mickey. They won the North Kerry championship final at the weekend so things are on a high.
“Regarding the county, whatever happens after that happens. Would I like to play for Kerry? Of course I would, what footballer from Kerry wouldn’t? But I don’t have any God-given right to walk into any squad.”
Kennelly, whose late father Tim and brother Noel won Celtic Crosses with Kerry, said the Swans supported his decision.
“It wasn’t a shock to anyone. I have always been up front with them here. The club know all the sacrifices I have made, coming out here as a teenager, moving away from my family and returning after my father died.
“They have always been very supportive since I came out here in 1999 and they understand my reasons for leaving.”
Though satisfied he has made the correct decision, Kennelly said he had a number of sleepless nights before making his mind up.
“I am walking away from an awful lot,” he continued.
“There’s the money side of things, there’s the life as a professional sportsman, the weather, the city life of Sydney, all the friends that I’ve made.
“But as long as you realise what’s important in life, everything falls into place. My heart was not in it here anymore.
“At the end of day I wanted to do what is in my heart.”
But he added: “Sydney has been wonderful for me. I’m not going to drop everything and forget everything and everyone I’ve encountered over the last 10 years. I’m still going to keep in touch with the people here.”
Kennelly is returning to a country suffering an economic downturn and admits that joining the workforce after a decade as a professional footballer will be a challenge.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead, I’m working on it,” he admitted.
“I’ve a BA from my time here and a few things going on. I will work on that side of things when I get home. But if there is anyone out there wanting to offer me a job, tell them to give me a call!”
However Kennelly revealed that he is involved on a project with both the GAA and AFL.
He explained: “For the last six months I’ve been involved in a kind of ambassador role between the two organisations.
“I was one of the lucky players to have travelled out to a club who did everything possible to make the transition as smooth and painless as possible on and off the field.
“But there are so many others who have been unlucky.
“I want to help show that there are pitfalls for young players travelling out to work with clubs and players to see how this can be addressed to the benefit of everyone.”
He also aims to put his AFL experience to good use in developing GAA at grassroots level.
“It is so professional. There are so many things I want to bring back to help make GAA more attractive to youngsters than say soccer or rugby. I learnt so much and can’t wait to put it into practice.”
His mother Nuala will collect him from the airport on Tuesday — but even she won’t believe in his return until he steps into the arrivals hall.
“It’s quite funny. She has heard it time and again that I’ve been home.
“When I told her I was coming home she was like ‘yeah okay’. I don’t think she believed me. But having talked to my friends she very excited.”
http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=83158-qqqx=1.asp