GEELONG has won the race to sign promising Irish teenager Mark O’Connor.

The Cats are believed to have beaten North Melbourne and Melbourne for the signature of the 19-year-old, a junior Gaelic football star with Kerry.

O'Connor, who underwent trials at five AFL clubs in September and also impressed at the recent NAB AFL Combine, confirmed on Irish radio that he had accepted a two-year international rookie contract with Geelong.

"Everyone wants to play with the best teams, and I've made the decision to go to Geelong," the athletic 189cm runner said.

"It's a very quiet place, like Dingle, and I was very comfortable there. I was really taken with Geelong, when I went in there – everyone was very friendly, and I felt at home there."

O'Connor's comparison with his hometown will spark some amusement, given Dingle's population at last count was 1920 while Geelong's was 179,689.

He is keen to start his new adventure "as soon as possible.

"It will be a different challenge," he said.

"I've been playing football since I was six or seven. It's attractive to stay here too (to play football for Kerry), that's why the decision was so hard. I want a different experience, and maybe a little bit of travelling. I suppose I was looking for something different."

O'Connor told AFL.com.au at the Combine he was keen to pursue a professional sporting career, which wasn't an option in Ireland.

"At home it's all amateur sport and there's no professionals in the game at all. To be able to spend all of my time trying to improve my game is something that I'd like," he said.