Reilly and McKiernan set for AFL Camp

Kingscourt’s Barry Reilly and Swanlinbar’s Gearoid McKiernan will be in good company this Wednesday March 3 as they attend AFL recruitment agent Richard Nixon’s latest camp.

The trial-day, which is set to be staged in Gormanstown Co. Meath, will see up to 25 of the country’s most talented young players showcase their talents in an effort to catch the eye of scouts from the Australian Football League.

Among them, according to Nixon, will be a handful of "significant players" who have knocked back AFL offers in recent years but who have since had a change of heart.

Nixon will be joined by scouts from AFL clubs Geelong, Richmond, Western Bulldogs and St. Kilda, who will no doubt be hoping to find the next Tadhg Kennelly.

Many of the players attending are believed to have been at previous trials and the aim is to see the improvement in players, if any, over a number of different tests.

Giant midfielder McKiernan has long been on Nixon’s radar and attended a similar camp back in April 2009. McKiernan’s progress though was halted by a horrific knee-injury last summer, but it is believed the scouts that will be in attendance are eager to have another look at his abilities.

The DIT student has had a patient recovery from that injury but is now back playing regularly with the county u21’s and has shown glimpses of his true potential.

Reilly, who travelled Down Under last summer for a trial with North Melbourne Kangaroos, has told the Anglo Celt that he will definitely be attending.

Last year’s county minor captain has made no secret of his dream to become a professional athlete and Wednesday is giving him another opportunity to show what he can do.

“I’m looking forward to it. The aim is just to enjoy it and try to impress whatever scouts are there so I can secure another trial,” he said.

Reilly revealed to the Anglo-Celt back in January that he has already been offered a second trial in Australia with the same club this summer but he won’t be letting that offer distract him this week.

Many Gaelic footballers that have attempted to switch codes have struggled to adapt to the oval ball but Reilly will surely be hoping to show how he has improved since the last time they saw him.