Dublin county chair Andy Kettle has expressed disappointment at the decision of Ciarán Kilkenny to take up a contract with AFL club Hawthorn but he has wished the talented dual player well.

“It’s a huge disappointment,” he said, “because it seemed as time wore on that he’d stay at home as he’d just started in UCD. For it to happen is a bitter disappointment for the hurlers and footballers because the indications were that he’d have had a go at playing both.”

Kilkenny was a key figure for Dublin in winning this year’s All-Ireland under-21 football title – as he had been for the county minors 12 months ago when they reached both All-Ireland finals only to lose to Tipperary in football and Galway in hurling.

He had also begun to make a mark at senior level and kicked three points from play having started the All-Ireland football semi-final defeat by Mayo.

Earlier this year Kilkenny had committed to playing for Dublin for the summer rather than going to Australia for trials but on reflection, has signed a two-year contract with Hawthorn, who contests this weekend’s Grand Final against the Sydney Swans.

“Ciarán is a young man with the world at his fingertips and he’s entitled to make choices,” added Kettle. “We’re an amateur organisation and if an athlete of his ability gets an offer he’s naturally going to be tempted. We didn’t put any pressure on him and left the decision totally to him.

“The county board and all Dublin GAA people wish him the best of luck and hope he becomes another Jim Stynes, Lord, have mercy on him. If for any reason things don’t work out, he’ll only be 21 at the end of his contract and I’m sure a long and fruitful playing career with Dublin will be still here for him.”

– SEÁN MORAN