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Cathal McShane Going To The AFL?

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http://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/307061

Very surprised to hear this. He's 24 and you'd usually just be wondering are the young layers going to go at around 19 or 20. He'll be a huge loss to Tyrone. It'll be hard for him to take to a new game at 24 but I do think he is well suited to it, very strong, good in the air and mobile.

Kerry15 (Kerry) - Posts: 957 - 02/01/2020 10:23:13    2256810

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Huge loss for Tyrone and the game generally imo.

Had the makings of a real superstar.

I hope it goes well for him.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 02/01/2020 10:50:32    2256820

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Replying To Kerry15:  "http://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/307061

Very surprised to hear this. He's 24 and you'd usually just be wondering are the young layers going to go at around 19 or 20. He'll be a huge loss to Tyrone. It'll be hard for him to take to a new game at 24 but I do think he is well suited to it, very strong, good in the air and mobile."
I know this sounds harsh but if he goes I have to hope it doesn't work out. If bring over a seasoned 24 year old star works out than it could be come open season on GAA stars. For me the good of the game I love is bigger than any one player. I'd wish the lad every success in life, just not in some thing that may open the a new dimension of talent cherry picking by the AFL and damage our game.

I hear the argument that it is only a handful of players annually but the counter argument is these are the blue chip players that decide the destination of the All Ireland. Mark O'Connor's absence may have cost Kerry and All Ireland this season. Tommy Walsh in 2011? Pearse Hanley may have got Mayo over the line once when they were so close. Setanta's loss could have cost Cork an All Ireland although with the strikes probably not. These are huge impacts.

Aside from the elite counties it is even tougher on a county trying to make the break through. Derry got hammered with 3 of the best young talents they had produced in years being swiped in Conor Glass, Anton Tohill and Callum Brown.

These guys are huge losses to the promotion of the games too. If they play a bit of soccer or rugby and chose one of those sports fine but there is something rotten about how the AFL let our volunteers do all the hard work and then swoop for the almost finished product.

dahayeser (Cork) - Posts: 336 - 02/01/2020 11:08:05    2256823

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Getting used to the oval ball at this stage in his career will be difficult but he definitely has all the tools to succeed there. Good luck to him.

From a Tyrone perspective he is a huge loss. He is the focal point of their attack and with Donnelly injured as well they are going to find it tough going in 2020 I think.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 02/01/2020 11:08:46    2256824

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I saw a good comment on Twiiter this morning. With the full introduction of the attacking mark in 2020 is there an element of the GAA inadvertently inviting the fox into the hen-house?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 02/01/2020 11:18:57    2256825

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More luck to him, too big an opportunity to turn down.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1898 - 02/01/2020 12:00:01    2256839

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Good luck to the lad but i find it sad Our Quality players are basically getting poached by the AFL. It will eventually kill GAA unless something is done about it.

GreenAndGold74 (Kerry) - Posts: 194 - 02/01/2020 12:02:53    2256842

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Replying To dahayeser:  "I know this sounds harsh but if he goes I have to hope it doesn't work out. If bring over a seasoned 24 year old star works out than it could be come open season on GAA stars. For me the good of the game I love is bigger than any one player. I'd wish the lad every success in life, just not in some thing that may open the a new dimension of talent cherry picking by the AFL and damage our game.

I hear the argument that it is only a handful of players annually but the counter argument is these are the blue chip players that decide the destination of the All Ireland. Mark O'Connor's absence may have cost Kerry and All Ireland this season. Tommy Walsh in 2011? Pearse Hanley may have got Mayo over the line once when they were so close. Setanta's loss could have cost Cork an All Ireland although with the strikes probably not. These are huge impacts.

Aside from the elite counties it is even tougher on a county trying to make the break through. Derry got hammered with 3 of the best young talents they had produced in years being swiped in Conor Glass, Anton Tohill and Callum Brown.

These guys are huge losses to the promotion of the games too. If they play a bit of soccer or rugby and chose one of those sports fine but there is something rotten about how the AFL let our volunteers do all the hard work and then swoop for the almost finished product."
There is one fact you kept out of your analysis - amatuer v Professional. At the end of the day sport is sport and the GAA whilst a great cultural, sporting, social aspect of one's life it doesn't provide the financial lifestyle of a professional sport. Counties, GPA etc can open up opportunities in Ireland to ensure a job/scholarship etc but it won't make up what can be earned in Australia. The GAA open it's clubs yes but it doesn't mean they own their players and should never have any say in how a young person decides to live their life when they praise themselves so much for being amateur.

A handful of players leave the major counties but your correct more leave the likes of Derry etc. If it's true about McShane going I'd say a major consideration was the fact he won't miss the ultimate success with the current Tyrone team so why not take a professional life. By success I mean nowhere near an All Ireland in the next 5 years at least which may have kept him at home- semi final might be achievable with a kind draw but he won't miss out on an All Ireland.

It was different when Cavanagh was offered a contract years ago as Tyrone could offer more All Ireland's; I think this shows the thinking amongst players in Tyrone now so why not grab an opportunity of a lifetime elsewhere.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 02/01/2020 12:06:55    2256843

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Sad to see teams not have their best players available. Happening throughout. Cavan Mc veety Donegal Mc Neilis and now this.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1139 - 02/01/2020 12:44:34    2256857

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "I saw a good comment on Twiiter this morning. With the full introduction of the attacking mark in 2020 is there an element of the GAA inadvertently inviting the fox into the hen-house?"
Yep and other posters have alluded to this also.

Only a matter of time before another really high profile young talent goes also. A certain county will only be able to do so much to hold onto him.
He would be a huge success in the AFL.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3725 - 02/01/2020 12:51:12    2256861

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Replying To sam1884:  "There is one fact you kept out of your analysis - amatuer v Professional. At the end of the day sport is sport and the GAA whilst a great cultural, sporting, social aspect of one's life it doesn't provide the financial lifestyle of a professional sport. Counties, GPA etc can open up opportunities in Ireland to ensure a job/scholarship etc but it won't make up what can be earned in Australia. The GAA open it's clubs yes but it doesn't mean they own their players and should never have any say in how a young person decides to live their life when they praise themselves so much for being amateur.

A handful of players leave the major counties but your correct more leave the likes of Derry etc. If it's true about McShane going I'd say a major consideration was the fact he won't miss the ultimate success with the current Tyrone team so why not take a professional life. By success I mean nowhere near an All Ireland in the next 5 years at least which may have kept him at home- semi final might be achievable with a kind draw but he won't miss out on an All Ireland.

It was different when Cavanagh was offered a contract years ago as Tyrone could offer more All Ireland's; I think this shows the thinking amongst players in Tyrone now so why not grab an opportunity of a lifetime elsewhere."
I agree on the amateur v pro. I'm not saying it doesn't make sense for McShane at all. Financially it could be great and he is more than entitled to go, 100% his decision.

My point is more I'd hope this AFL experiment of taken a 24 year old established star doesn't work out because of the precedent it sets an how it could open the flood gates. It pains me not to wish the young man luck but I wish him luck in every other aspect of life just not in his quest to crack the AFL.

tomhealycork (Cork) - Posts: 80 - 02/01/2020 13:24:25    2256871

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Replying To sam1884:  "There is one fact you kept out of your analysis - amatuer v Professional. At the end of the day sport is sport and the GAA whilst a great cultural, sporting, social aspect of one's life it doesn't provide the financial lifestyle of a professional sport. Counties, GPA etc can open up opportunities in Ireland to ensure a job/scholarship etc but it won't make up what can be earned in Australia. The GAA open it's clubs yes but it doesn't mean they own their players and should never have any say in how a young person decides to live their life when they praise themselves so much for being amateur.

A handful of players leave the major counties but your correct more leave the likes of Derry etc. If it's true about McShane going I'd say a major consideration was the fact he won't miss the ultimate success with the current Tyrone team so why not take a professional life. By success I mean nowhere near an All Ireland in the next 5 years at least which may have kept him at home- semi final might be achievable with a kind draw but he won't miss out on an All Ireland.

It was different when Cavanagh was offered a contract years ago as Tyrone could offer more All Ireland's; I think this shows the thinking amongst players in Tyrone now so why not grab an opportunity of a lifetime elsewhere."
Another fact is one elite county seems immune from this poaching of quality players. Why is this I wonder?

Stooker (Leitrim) - Posts: 63 - 02/01/2020 13:33:42    2256873

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Replying To tomhealycork:  "I agree on the amateur v pro. I'm not saying it doesn't make sense for McShane at all. Financially it could be great and he is more than entitled to go, 100% his decision.

My point is more I'd hope this AFL experiment of taken a 24 year old established star doesn't work out because of the precedent it sets an how it could open the flood gates. It pains me not to wish the young man luck but I wish him luck in every other aspect of life just not in his quest to crack the AFL."
On the same page there Tom. McShane might make a lot of money. I heard rumours of a 200k offer. It could be great for him but the repercussions of him succeeding could be really bad for gaelic football.

dahayeser (Cork) - Posts: 336 - 02/01/2020 13:38:20    2256875

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He's said to have had trials when he was a teenager with Brisbane. They must have been following his development for a while, and his rise last year.
I think Sean Cavanagh was offered a chance at Afl at 24 too, but turned it down..

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 02/01/2020 13:38:48    2256876

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Replying To dahayeser:  "I know this sounds harsh but if he goes I have to hope it doesn't work out. If bring over a seasoned 24 year old star works out than it could be come open season on GAA stars. For me the good of the game I love is bigger than any one player. I'd wish the lad every success in life, just not in some thing that may open the a new dimension of talent cherry picking by the AFL and damage our game.

I hear the argument that it is only a handful of players annually but the counter argument is these are the blue chip players that decide the destination of the All Ireland. Mark O'Connor's absence may have cost Kerry and All Ireland this season. Tommy Walsh in 2011? Pearse Hanley may have got Mayo over the line once when they were so close. Setanta's loss could have cost Cork an All Ireland although with the strikes probably not. These are huge impacts.

Aside from the elite counties it is even tougher on a county trying to make the break through. Derry got hammered with 3 of the best young talents they had produced in years being swiped in Conor Glass, Anton Tohill and Callum Brown.

These guys are huge losses to the promotion of the games too. If they play a bit of soccer or rugby and chose one of those sports fine but there is something rotten about how the AFL let our volunteers do all the hard work and then swoop for the almost finished product."
I agree that all these lads are huge losses to our game. I hope it works out for all the lads who try it though, it is a fantastic opportunity to earn a living from playing a professional game. The GAA does not have ownership of these lads and they are entitled to try their hand at AFL. I do agree with other posters in that the advent of the mark in our game now may only highlight potential talent even further for AFL clubs.

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 912 - 02/01/2020 13:54:49    2256883

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Replying To Stooker:  "Another fact is one elite county seems immune from this poaching of quality players. Why is this I wonder?"
Stop trying to derail the thread. You're so predictable.

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 02/01/2020 13:56:25    2256884

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Replying To Jackeen:  "Stop trying to derail the thread. You're so predictable."
He is joining a team with James Madden in it and James is from which county??????

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 02/01/2020 14:06:41    2256887

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Replying To Stooker:  "Another fact is one elite county seems immune from this poaching of quality players. Why is this I wonder?"
One thing the GAA has is the pull of winning All Ireland's with your county. It's why you find most players who go aren't leaving a realistic chance to win Sam. It's nothing to do with one elite county in particular - Cavanagh turned down a similar offer at the same age. I wonder was the reason Tyrone were at the top at that time! I'm convinced the state of their own county forms a major part of a decision to go or not and you might find a few Dublin players go in the future but aren't going to leave their counties success at the minute.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 02/01/2020 14:16:43    2256891

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Replying To sam1884:  "One thing the GAA has is the pull of winning All Ireland's with your county. It's why you find most players who go aren't leaving a realistic chance to win Sam. It's nothing to do with one elite county in particular - Cavanagh turned down a similar offer at the same age. I wonder was the reason Tyrone were at the top at that time! I'm convinced the state of their own county forms a major part of a decision to go or not and you might find a few Dublin players go in the future but aren't going to leave their counties success at the minute."
I think you're spot on there to a large degree. Why would you pass up a chance of AFL to stay here and train to win nothing and get nothing for it either.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1898 - 02/01/2020 15:32:06    2256914

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Replying To witnof:  "He is joining a team with James Madden in it and James is from which county??????"
Yet another Kerry alias.

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 02/01/2020 15:33:50    2256916

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