World Footy News

For most of the year there has been specualtion about Ciarán Kilkenny of Dublin making the cross from GAA football to the AFL club Carlton. The gifted footballer has fielded questions many times about whether he would be staying in Ireland or heading down to Melbourne to play with the oval ball.

But the Irish Herald.ie website today revealed that Kilkenny, who has just returned from an Australian trial had visited with the Hawthorn Football Club and that they were keen to sign him (although Hawthorn have not commented). Irish players are basically open to whoever is the first to sign them so the battle seems to be on for his signature between the Hawks and Carlton.

Picture:Sporstfile.

Hawthorn who have not shown much interest previously in Irish talent (Dermott Brereton's father was Irish may be a minor exception) may have had a change of heart with the change to the rules this year that means the club can have one Irish player who will not be included on the main rookie list and will be treated like other international rookies (like Mike Pyke for example).

Louth "underage star" Ciarán Byrne also trialled at the Carlton Football Club this year and could be another possibility to join Carlton's list.