Article in Evening Echo on Monday

Setanta Ó hAilpín became the first Irishman to kick a goal with his first kick in league football in front of over 52,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

The 23-year old spent most of the afternoon on the interchange bench and was a peripheral figure for the few minutes he came on. His goal from 40 metres out was a moment of magic.

"The experinece of playing at the MCG was similar to playing hurling at Croke Park in front of a big crowd," said Setanta.

"I had the shakes as I ran up to kick the goal but fortunately it came off the boot okay. It was very exciting to have made my AFL debut but I was disappointed we lost. It was also frustrating to be sat watching most of the game on the interchange bench but if I keep working hard, hopefully I will get more oppotunities to play in the seniors."

He started on the interchange bench but enterted the fray at full forward after 8 minutes of the opening quarter as Denis Pagan desperately tried to prevent his team's total collpase. Setanta tried to kick towards goal but was bundled to ground in the ensuing ruck. He was interchanged after 7 minutes and took no further part in the opening term.

He returned to the action in the latter stages of the second quarter but was isolated for long periods as Richmond dominated. With 6 minutes left until the half-time siren Setanta leapt for a mcontested mark inside the Richmond 50 but failed to reach the ball. It was proving to be a tough baptism and he must have wondered if his teammates would ever get the hang of this nAussie Rules caper. Try of they might they had no idea and as ayoung man accustomed to sporting excellence form his hurling days, he must have felt sorry for them.

The Cork ace returned to the interchange bench after half time as Carlton tried in vain to salvage some pride.He reappeared in the dying minutes of the third term, as Carlton's afternoon rapidly descended into humiliation.

Setanta was benched again at the start of the final quarter. When he returned to the Blues' forward line, his team was 102 points behind Richmond with 6 minutes remaining. And then came Setanta moment. He took a contested mark 40 metres in front of the posts and nervously kicked his first AFL goal between the sticks.

It was the highlight of a dismal afternoon for Carlton who suffered their record loss to Richmond. Instead of helping Setanta most of his teammates succeeded only in giving him a master class in how not to be a professional footballer.

_________________
Setanta Ó hAilpín 64 AFL Games 45 Goals

Up the Rebels All-Ireland Hurling Champions 2004/2005

Another scoop to the Irishman!

And the last para says it all.....unfortunately.

_________________
And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

"Instead of helping Setanta, most of his teammates succeeded only in giving him a master class in how not to be a professional footballer."

OUCH...

harsh, but fair.

Will probably be dropped for the Fev as he won't be used as a follower.

Setanta will make way for Fev on Friday night.
Loved the experience and loves playting footy wont be going back to Ireland after the contract. Says "I have a long way to go"
the story goes that when Pagan called Setanta into his office to tell him about his activation into the senior list Setanta actually thought he was about to be delisted and was shitting himself....
He will be offered a senor contract next year and stayed out till late to train with Aisake who looks ok too and snapped a few good left footed goals.

_________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Good new Synbad.

_________________
Mjonc signing off at 8888

I love this bloke.

_________________
Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

Awesome news Synbad.

Cen toum un wil un marchioucht ag tosaigh???


About now I reckon.

Thanks Synbad.

_________________
"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

They mentioned that story on Saturday Central on Foxtel, before the Richmond game.

Bloody funny, not sure how he could think he was being axed.

_________________
|♥♥♥♥♥♥| http://www.blueseum.org |♥♥♥♥♥♥|

Cos the guy is obviously a damn hard worker, and not a bighead at all. If he thinks that he's in danger of being axed, even after all his hard work, we need to bottle that attitude, and put the other 38 (excluding Aisake, I'm figuring he's got similar attitudes to Santy) on IV drips of the stuff.

Go you fookin' big Irish Hittin' Machine!

_________________
And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Does this mean that his elevation was was purely a reward for his hard work so far and to highlight how far he has to go? Because I can't see how a team devoid of tall options would not make the most of the opportunity while the window is still open (with Fisher on the LTI).... particularly if we intend to elevate him to the senior list next year.

_________________
Patrick Smith - Just another reason to HATE Essendon*!

Well he got a taste and 10 mins of match time is probably not what his development really needs .
He hasnt even played 20 AFL games yet..

Bannister Sporn and Longmuire will be the others dropped.

_________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thanks for the post KB. Wish Setanta had got more of a run. Interesting article. I think the evening echo journo may have plagiarised a few paras from the Sunday Age.

I tell you what, I hope Saturday wasn't his "full potential"!

I'm sure it wasn't though, and I think Synbad's right - he needs a bit more time.

_________________
If meat is murder then yoghurt must be burglary
GO YOU BIG RED FIRE ENGINE
Move aside Kouta, Lance etc - you're holding us back... from entering the under 18s

From the horses mouth!!

I still cannot understand why he wasn't given more game time.... As I have posted elsewhere before, its not like he could have done much worse than the other players on the day.

Sad to hear he will miss this week. But I have faith in Dennis and believe he has the right plan for Setantas development.

Do people in hear think that having Setanta & Fev in the same forward line would work OK?

IMO I think it would be great... but I guess it will be tricky structure wise when Fisher is back...

Thoughts?

ridiculous giving him one game with little ground time- surely if he has done enough to get a game last week deserves a shot again this week.

I'm excited about him...................specially with his ruck work.

Look, i love Big Barnaby........and he wins a fair few tap outs, don't get me wrong. But watching Setanta in the ruck with the bullants this year he is really getting a nack for it and quite often wins EFFECTIVE taps (ie-directly to a players advantage) rather than just a tap.

Still not quite ready, but next year i could see him playing a lot more games. Maybe half a dozen??????????

... still think that he has more to offer than the 'nowhere man'. Prendergast is key position size, but can't play key position. He has midfielder endurance, but can't find the footy. Built up like Tarzan over the summer, but still plays like Jane. Sorry people, I just don't see where he fits in.

Setanta, even raw, at least provides a contest, desperation, physicallity and OPTIONS. Does Prenda? With Setanta at CHF you can afford to send Whitnall or DeLuca back and still be a chance to kick a goal. He might even make the oppositions spare man in defence think about jumping in front of a contest... and imagine what he could do to Milburn on Friday night

_________________
Patrick Smith - Just another reason to HATE Essendon*!

don't know who wrote the article but it wasn't a regular echo writer anyway

_________________
Setanta Ó hAilpín 64 AFL Games 45 Goals

Up the Rebels All-Ireland Hurling Champions 2004/2005