Setanta O hAilpin faces year out of Aussie Rules after knee injury

Setanta O hAilpin faces a tough battle to maintain his AFL career after he suffered a bad cruciate ligament ligament injury at the weekend.

It is hard to believe it is now nine years since Setanta O hAilpin starred for Cork and won himself the Young Hurler of the Year Award and an All Star.

Later in 2003 he moved to Australia to try his hand at Aussie Rules and after a slow start at Carlton, and one or two altercations with team-mates that didn’t help, he eventually established himself in the Blues line-up.

However, he was traded last season to the newest franchise in the AFL, Greater Western Sydney (known as the Giants) and the Cork man made his long-awaited debut for the club at the weekend.

It all started so well against his former team Carlton, as O hAilipin kicked two goals in the first half but an awkward fall in the third quarter saw him limp off and it has now been confirmed that he faces up to 12 months out with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Giants GM Graeme Allan is quoted in the Aussie press today about the impact of injury.

"It is a cruel blow for Setanta after just one game with the Giants and we wish him all the best with his recovery," he said.

"He has been a great influence on our young playing list since he joined the club and we look forward to his continued presence around the club over the rest of this season as he undergoes rehabilitation."

There is already talk in some quarters that in the harsh world of AFL this could be the end for the Irish player and he will be 30 by the time he returns to action next season.

However, we hope that his experience, and tenacity to carve out a career for himself there, will stand to him and that he will play AFL again.

Best of luck Setanta. Get well soon.