FERMANAGH dynamo Ultan Kelm hasn’t given up on his Aussie Rules dream, but is fully focused on adding to his burgeoning reputation in the world of Gaelic football for the rest of 2020.
The versatile Erne Gaels player has become one of Fermanagh’s key men since bursting onto the inter-county scene in recent years, and his power, pace and athleticism caught the eye of Aussie scouts during an AFL combine in UCD last December.
Along with Mayo pair Oisin Mullin and Frank Irwin, as well as Clare’s Cillian Rouine, Kelm had been due to travel to Australia in April to undergo trials in front of AFL recruiters. However, the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to those plans, with the league forced to shut down temporarily as a result.
Former Cavan midfielder Nicholas Walsh, previously a rookie player and coach in the AFL, predicted the trickle of Irish players Down Under would slow as a result of the financial hit the league had taken.
Kelm expects that to be the case too, but still hopes to be afforded the opportunity to show what he can do further down the line.
“I was building towards that date for a while, obviously I was annoyed that it was cancelled but everyone was in the same boat, there’s three other boys there too and they’re all feeling the same way about,” said the 20-year-old, who has just completed the first of a four year Ulster University degree in architectural engineering.
“We haven’t really heard much since that. We’ve just kept in contact but nothing really related to what’s happening. I know they’re back up and going but, from the chat of the scouts, they want to get through this year before they start planning for next year.
“Obviously being part of a professional set-up is very appealing, you’re so close to playing at elite level here, that next step is just going on to be involved in professional sport. It’s a chance everyone aspires to probably, and it’s one you’d take with both hands.
“I haven’t completely ruled it out – I think there’s still a chance we can get over and hopefully make something happen. The program we were going over with, they said back in March we could still go over in the next six to 12 months, so I’m just going to wait and see.
“Hopefully the start of next year, that would be ideal.”
Club action is set to resume later this month, and then Kelm will turn his attention to Fermanagh’s bid to avoid dropping into the third tier of the National League and the prospect of Tailteann Cup football next year.
The Ernemen are currently rooted to the bottom of Division Two, with remaining games against Clare (away) and Laois (home) to save their skins.
“Everybody just wants to get out onto the field and back playing now with the club,” said the Belleek native.
“With the county, there’s two big League games to be played when we come back in. Those games are huge, we were building so much towards them before everything was cancelled. It’s black and white how important they are for Fermanagh - they’re must-win.
“It was tough at the start [of lockdown] when you had no date or nothing really to work for, you didn’t know if there’d be anything more this year. That’s what made it difficult. Obviously when you started to see there was a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, there was planning in the works for a return to play, that’s when it got easier.
“That bit of a competitive streak kicks in when you’ve something to work for.”
