FERMANAGH forward Ultan Kelm and Tyrone’s Eoin McElholm could both be on the brink of a switch to the AFL.
Derry defender Eoin McEvoy will also travel to Australia today ahead of taking part in a Combine event next weekend.
It is understood that Erne Gaels clubman Kelm, who was on the brink of a move Down Under in 2020 and again in 2022, could be set for a third-time lucky switch.
He impressed at recent trials with the Freemantle Dockers and hopes to be offered a contract in the AFL at the end of next month.
Also waiting to hear from the Dockers is Tyrone starlet McElholm, the talented, free-scoring forward who has been outstanding for his club Loughmacrory in this season’s senior championship.
He posted a match-winning 1-5 as Loughmacrory saw off Galbally in their opener and backed that up with 1-3 last weekend as his club fell just short against Dungannon at the quarter-final stage.
McElholm, who captained Omagh CBS to MacRory and Hogan Cup success and whose father John was named as part of Monaghan’s new management team this week, made his Tyrone senior debut against Roscommon in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final at Healy Park.
He marked his first appearance with a point but the emergence of the talented youngster was overshadowed by defeat for his county.
His exit would be a considerable loss to new Tyrone manager Malachy O’Rourke, who will be searching for a forward to take some of the pressure for scores off the shoulders of Darragh Canavan and Darren McCurry.
With his pace, athleticism and skill, McElholm would certainly have fitted the bill but his dream is to live the life of a professional athlete.
That is also the dream for Fermanagh star Kelm but his has been dashed twice due to what he rightly described as “a series of unfortunate events”.
He was originally supposed to make the switch to Aussie Rules in April 2020 but the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic scuppered that. Two years’ later he signed a contract with Freemantle but was then injured and the move never happened.
“They postponed it,” he explained last year.
“That door’s not closed, hopefully something will still happen. I’d like to give it a go, it’s an opportunity that I’d love, I’ve developed a big interest in the sport and it’s something I’d be mad-keen to try.”
The loss of Kelm’s pace and scoring power would be an obvious setback for Fermanagh. The blond-haired speedster was ever-present for the Erne County last year when he scored in 10 of the 12 games in a challenging season.
He was remarkably consistent in the Tailteann Cup with two points in every game as Fermanagh topped their group but bowed out at the quarter-final stage.
Magherafelt and Derry defender McEvoy heads off today alongside Irish U20 rugby international and former Dublin minor David Colbert.
They both impressed at recent Dublin-based trials and will head out early to get up to speed ahead of the Combine event that will take place on the weekend of October 5/6.
McEvoy will miss at least his club’s Derry SFC quarter-final with Dungiven that weekend but after posting some impressive times in the Dublin event, the expectation is that a number of AFL clubs will display a keen interest in him.
His services could be snapped up within the next months provided his attributes match a gap in the current roster of players held by a club that is interested.
Testing will include the vertical jump, running vertical jump, 20-metre sprint, agility test and 2km time trial.
The fact that he has played Division One football and in an All-Ireland semi-final with Derry, as well as being nominated for Young Footballer of the Year in 2023, will stand to him as well.
While Fermanagh are still hopeful of having Ultan Kelm at their disposal next year, they will definitely be without the long-serving Aidan Breen who has retired from inter-county football.
A veteran of over 100 games for his county since he made his debut in against St Mary’s University in the McKenna Cup in 2011, the Tempo Maguires clubman has been a loyal servant for Fermanagh over 14 seasons.
A hard-working and fully-committed player with pace, stamina and an eye for a score, Breen was ever-present in Fermanagh’s run to the Ulster final in 2018 and scored two vital points as the Ernemen saw off fancied Monaghan at the semi-final stage.
He reached a century of appearances in the green and white jersey against Westmeath in 2022 and his last action for the Ernemen came in the victory over Carlow at Dr Cullen Park last season.
“Aidan has been a brilliant servant to our county since he made his senior debut,” said Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly.
“His levels of performance were always of the highest standard renowned for chipping in with some big scores throughout his career.
“You always knew that you would get 100 per cent commitment from ‘Breeno’ and it was his selfless attitude that made him such a valuable teammate and an ever-present in the green jersey. The squad and county will miss him going forward but we wish him all the best for the future.”
