A YOUNG Killarney footballer has got the big breakthrough he has craved in Australian Rules football after securing a two-year deal with the star-studded AFL side Geelong Cats.
Padraig Lucey, one of Killarney Legion’s stand-out players from juvenile level right through to senior ranks, signed a pro deal after taking part in an Australian reality television show to identify the most promising young stars.
Lucey (21) was one of the competitors in The Recruit – similar to The Underdogs series held here some years ago – and although he was eliminated from the running last week, he had done more than enough to catch the eye of astute AFL scouts.
The high-fielding Lucey, who stands at 6’6” and is one of a family of three, had been training at local football club Heidelberg before the Cats tabled a 24-month rookie contract.
Lucey – nicknamed the Irish Cat by his new clubmates – was first introduced to the AFL 18 months ago by fellow Kerry man Tadhg Kennelly. He represented the European Legion against the AIS earlier this year, before accepting an invitation to compete in The Recruit.
He said the reality TV series gave him a taste of the AFL and he felt he wanted more.
“I am very lucky to finally get a shot at it,” he said.
“Everyone at the club is really friendly and it’s a team I feel I could really fit into,” added the towering Killarney man whose new club headquarters is just an hour’s journey from Melbourne.
Before heading down under, Lucey, a former St Brendan’s College student, lined out at midfield for Killarney Legion in their thrilling local derby victory over Dr Crokes in this year’s Kerry senior football championship in July.
