DERRY’S Patrick Kearney and Antrim youngster Eunan Walsh were among the players that recently took part in an AFL trial in Dublin.
The pair were among 21 young players from all over Ireland that took part in the trial, which was held at University College Dublin.
The trial was overseen by former Sydney Swans and Kerry player Tadhg Kennelly, and ex-Collingwood and Down footballer Marty Clarke, as well as representatives from AFL clubs.
Athletic Swatragh midfielder Kearney was spotted as he turned in a series of exceptional performances over a couple of years for St. Patrick’s Maghera, whom he helped to a third MacRory Cup title in four years back in March.
Along with his twin brother Francis, Kearney also excelled in Derry minors’ run to the Ulster title in 2015 and their return to a provincial final earlier this year.
He will hope to follow in the footsteps of former St. Pat’s team-mate Conor Glass, who is in the first year of a rookie contract with AFL Premiership side Hawthorn.
Eunan Walsh, meanwhile, stood out during his club Aghagallon’s run to the Antrim intermediate championship title this year, netting an all-important goal in their county final win over Dunloy.
The teenage wing-back, a student at Dundalk IT, featured for Antrim minors in 2015 and was part of their under-21 squad at the start of 2016.
Like Kearney, he was first spotted through his performances in the MacRory Cup, where he played for St. Ronan’s Lurgan in their campaigns in 2015 and 2016.
The trial was also attended by a number of members of the St. Brendan's Killarney side that won this year's Hogan Cup, though they did not include David Clifford, who is being hotly tipped to follow former Kerry minor team-mate Mark O'Connor down under.
