After impressing at the AFL Combine in UCD earlier this month, three young players will get a further chance to catch the eye of Aussie Rules clubs.
Colm Keys reports in today's Irish Independent that Dublin minor James Madden, Cork's Mark Keane and Derry's Anton Tohill - son of All-Ireland winner Anthony - have been invited to the AFL academy in Florida next month.
During the trials at UCD, Madden, who plays for Ballyboden St. Enda's, stood out when he set a new record for the 20m sprint: 2.68 seconds.
Speaking to Balls.ie following the combine, AFL media man Ryan Davidson said that Keane had impressed him the most.
I work with recruiters back home, if I was going to pick anyone today I would be putting him on the plane to America next month but I wouldn't be surprised if he got picked up before that.
For a bloke that hasn't done any footie before, his kicking was really good, took a couple of strong marks, had poise, he was really good.
The 6' 3" Keane played for both the Cork U17 and minor teams during the summer. His "outsanding game sense, kicking and contested marking" impressed recruiters - which included former Irish Aussie rules players Colm Begley and Marty Clarke - according to the league's website.
At 6' 6", 17-year-old Tohill is said to have caught the eye with his athleticism and leadership qualities. There is also some experience of AFL in this family: his father played with the Melbourne U19s and reserves in the 1980s.
Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
