KILDARE FOOTBALLER PADDY Brophy will be staying put with the Lilywhites for the 2014 season rather than moving to pursue an Australia Rules career.
Kildare have already seen Daniel Flynn sign a two-year contract with Port Adelaide in October while another rising star in the county Sean Hurley, was on trial with the Fremantle Dockers last month.
But Brophy, who participated in an AFL International Combine Trial last February in DCU, is planning to remain in Ireland for the 2014 campaign.
A business and accounting student at NUI Maynooth, Brophy has a busy schedule next year as he samples Sigerson Cup football in a college team that will also include players like Dublin’s Michael Darragh Macauley and Donegal’s Patrick McBrearty.
He is also eligible for the U21 ranks in 2014 where Kildare will be defending their Leinster crown and for Jason Ryan’s senior side.
Despite being sounded out by a few AFL sides, no concrete offers have emerged for Brophy and he is focusing on Gaelic football matters next year.
“I have been on their radar since February. I wasn’t at the AFL camp last week. There’s a few clubs in touch but nothing major.
“I won’t be going this year (2014) I will definitely be staying with Kildare for this year. I’ve two years left U21, it would be a good time if I did go.
“I’ve chatted with Paul Cribbin who was with Collingwood a good bit about it and also Michael Quinn from Longford. Daniel Flynn is over there and he can fill me in and Sean Hurley was on a two-week trial.
“He is back at the minute and I think he is going back over again so I will chat with him. But I’m definitely staying for another year.”
