LITHUANIAN-BORN KERRY goalkeeper Deividas Uosis appears to be one prospect who impressed at this weekend’s Australian Football League [AFL] European Combine in Dublin.
GAA stars from around the country were put through their paces at the ninth annual Combine in UCD, as they aimed to impress on-watching Aussie Rules scouts and earn a trial in Australia.
All-Ireland minor champion Uosis was one who caught the eye during the two-day fitness and skills testing event, according to the AFL’s website.
The 19-year-old recorded a blistering 2.76 second time in the 20m sprint – 0.92sec over the first 5m – and finished fourth in agility testing with a 7.92 second effort.
Both of those times would have ranked number one at this year’s NAB AFL Draft Combine Down Under.
The Dingle teenager also excelled in the endurance-based Yo-Yo test, where his 21.5 score was superior to the Australian Combine’s best overall performer, Hawthorn father-son recruit Finn Maginness.
AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan was “super” impressed with 2017 minor All-Star Uosis but stressed that athletic testing was “only one part of it”.
“Today we have the game sense and match play (after testing the previous day), but they’re elite athletes and as good as what we have in Australia,” Sheehan told AFL.com.
You don’t jump to conclusions based just on someone’s speed time, but it does suit that they can break the lines and we are after fast athletes.
This year, Uosis — also a talented outfield GAA, basketball and soccer player — has starred between the posts for Dingle, been involved in the Kingdom senior set-up and led the way for PS Chorca Dhuibhne.
Two Kerry minor All-Ireland winners have made the move to Auatralia in recent years, with fellow Dingle man Mark O’Connor and Tralee’s Stefan Okunbor both on the books at Geelong.
While 20 participated across the weekend, Mayo duo Matthew Ruane and Oisin Mullin were among other top performers, with Down’s Pierce Laverty and Jordan Morrissey of Carlow also present.
“It’s inspiring to be in this environment,” Sheehan added. “The kids want to give it their best, alongside like-minded guys from all over the country who have played against each other but never met.
“They’re on a path that’s quite uncertain but exciting.”
Dubliner James Madden (Brisbane) and Ross McQuillan (Essendon) both recently landed deals off the back of standout AFL Europe Combine testing results.
The top-four rated Irish prospects from the Combine will be flown to Australia in April 2020 to train in front of AFL teams, while two more will test at the 2020 NAB AFL Draft Combine.
The first-ever women’s European Combine now follows the men’s edition, after Galway star Olivia Divilly excelled in the Melbourne trial two months ago.
As per photographs on Inpho, here are the 20 that attended:
- Aaron O’Neill (Kildare)
- Shane O’Sullivan (Kildare)
- Martin Shannon (Wicklow)
- Cathal Walsh (Galway)
- Matt Grogan (Dublin)
- Matthew Ruane (Mayo)
- Pierce Laverty (Down)
- Deividas Uosis (Kerry)
- Oisin O’Reilly (Roscommon)
- Blake Murphy (Cork)
- Oisin Mullin (Mayo)
- Brian Hartnett (Cork)
- Lorcan McBride (Tyrone)
- Karl Gallagher (Monaghan)
- Ultan Kelm (Fermanagh)
- Conleth McShane (Derry)
- Oisin McGraynor (Wicklow)
- Cillian Rouine (Clare)
- Frank Irwin (Mayo)
- Jordan Morrissey (Carlow) — did not test because of Éire Óg’s Leinster final.
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Good jayus!!!
United are crying out for a right sided attacking midfielder. Bring a bit of balance. He’s on the payroll. Playing well. Makes sense.
I miss him purely because utd don’t have enough natural hate figures playing for them
Hopefully we see granny back at womanchester divided
Im calling you out the fake les
So everything with man in the name becomes woman….. We are in the presence of a genius. Usually trolls are just out there spitting bike whereas you are here tearing up the comment section!
Stfu your names spoddgy like
Good grief its the first sign of the apocalypse!
I wouldn’t if I was Nani-United only have a chance of winning the fa cup whilst Lisbon have the Portuguese league Portuguese cup and the champions/Europa league!!
You think that Sporting have a chance of the Champions league?
They have a Sporting chance.
Yes.
Foxyfonz you just win at life…!
Please tell me this is an elaborate joke? Nani is terrible.
Christ … LvG has lost it!
Rather him than Ashley young at the moment….
Never got why Nani didnt play as much as he did for club or country. Seemed to always play well when on dont see Valencia being miles ahead of him
He plays the whole time for Portugal.
You obviously didn’t watch too many games. Never consistent enough
LVG has brought the best out of young and fellaini in recent times, maybe he can do it with nani too. It was never a question of nanis ability, just his consistency. 5 or 6 good performances a season just wasn’t enough.