Kildare teenager trialled for Aussie Rules

It has been to the detriment of the county side that there have been so many athletically gifted footballers to come through the underage system in Kildare over the last number of years as the scouts from the Australian Rules games have now identified the county as a haven for potential young talent. Kilcock starlet Daniel Courtney was among the 20 candidates trialled yesterday by International talent co-ordinator Tadgh Kennelly yesterday afternoon in what is now an annual draft set-up where the best young Irish talent is given a chance to impress. Courtney played midfield on the Kildare minor team that won the Leinster Championship this year and went on to reach the All-Ireland semi-final where they lost out to Tipperary. Kerry youngster Pat Spillane, son of the RTÉ pundit who goes by the same name, was also in attendance at the trials. Former Kildare senior county stars Paddy Brophy and Sean Hurley are both down under playing with the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle respectively.