In line with the "ex-GAA" people criticised by Mickey Harte, Tadhg Kennelly responded to the Tyrone manager's comments on OTB AM and urged Harte to consider the wider picture. 

It is as yet uncertain whether Cathal McShane will be afforded the opportunity of pursuing a professional sporting career in the AFL.

Currently training with the league's Adelaide Crows in their pre-season camp, the Tyrone forward's interest in such a proposition has certainly been declared, however.

That being said, the 23-year-old's interest goes back a few years before this breakthrough.

"I knew Cathal from when I was working in recruitment [for the AFL]," noted Tadhg Kennelly in conversation with Off the Ball. "As an 18-year-old, he was one who came along to the National Combine."

Not deemed suitable on that occasion, that it now appears likely McShane will have an opportunity to pursue a career in the AFL is a demonstration of the Tyrone man's development in that time.

For Mickey Harte, McShane's inter-county manager with Tyrone, the likelihood that he will lose his star forward to the AFL has been particularly frustrating.

"I have given Cathal my views on what I thought in my heart and soul would be best for his career both on and off the field," explained Harte to the BBC. "The very simple answer to that is that I thought it would be best served by him being here [in Tyrone]."

Comfortable admitting that he is "not a fan of Gaelic players being scooped by the AFL," the three-time All-Ireland winning manager took aim at those who he believed are facilitating such moves.

"I think that this used to be the job of unknown scouts from Australia but now it’s actually ex-GAA people from Ireland who are actually scouting our players to take them away to another league which is of no benefit to us whatsoever," he said. "It’s one-way staff, loss-loss for us and it doesn’t make much sense to me that we would still engage officially with that outfit while this goes on."

Although Harte refused to engage any of these "ex-GAA" people by name, Tadhg Kennelly, who is now working as an assistant coach with the Sydney Swans, appreciates that he is likely among those in Harte's firing line.

I still say to people that playing championship games at home with Listowel, I'm watching my back more there than I did over 12 years with the Sydney Swans as a professional athlete

Tadhg Kennelly and Stephen Cluxton celebrate after the game. International Rules 2nd Test, Australia v Ireland, Australia. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE

"It's nothing new," noted Kennelly of Harte's criticism. "Obviously, I understand where he's coming from and of course he's going to be disappointed.

"I'm almost sick of it [by now though]. It is almost a consistent theme, and while I understand the frustration within the GAA, I think the AFL is an easy target."

Familiar with Mickey Harte's disapproval of the relationship between the GAA and AFL, Tadhg Kennelly took aim at a particular aspect of the Tyrone manager's criticism. Namely, that GAA players who travel to Australia often return as inferior Gaelic footballers.

"His comment about players coming [back from the AFL] and not playing well," he picked up on, "there are examples going the other way too.

"Colm Begley came back and has been fantastic for a long time with Laois. Brendan Murphy who was with the Swans went to Carlow when he came back.

"Chrissy McKaigue who was with the Swans went back and has dominated with his club and captained Derry. So, there are examples every way."

When it was put to Kennelly that Mickey Harte may have players like Kyle Coney, an All-Ireland minor winner with Tyrone in 2008 who opted to join the Sydney Swans shortly after that year's final, in mind, the Kerry native rejected the notion that Coney's subsequent GAA involvement had been negatively impacted upon by the AFL.

"Kyle never lasted it," argued Kennelly. "He spent six weeks out here and that was it.

"So if you take the example of Kyle Coney, that's more to do with your own development program in your own county.

"As far as why he hasn't established himself as a senior, one of the most talented minor footballers ever to play the game, that's nothing to do with AFL."

In the two decades since he commenced his playing career with the Sydney Swans, Kennelly, who remains the only Irishman to win a Premiership medal (2005) and an All-Ireland medal (2009), believes the two games are now more similarly shaped in terms of what both the GAA and AFL demand of its players physically.

"I still say to people that playing championship games at home with Listowel," he remarked with a laugh, "I'm watching my back more there than I did over 12 years with the Sydney Swans as a professional athlete."

Tadhg Kennelly's interview will be available to view in full on Wednesday's OTB AM. 

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