Cillian McDaid in action for Galway in the FBD League in January. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

YOUNG GALWAY FOOTBALL prospect Cillian McDaid has become the latest GAA player set to start an Aussie Rules career.

Galway Bay FM has reported today that McDaid will join Carlton after being offered a two-year professional contract and will fly out on Sunday to link up with the Melbourne-based club for the first time.

The news is a major blow to Galway football as McDaid has emerged a huge talent. He was excellent for the county U21 side that contested the All-Ireland football final in April, scoring 1-1 in that defeat to Dublin in Tullamore.

Galway's Cillian McDaid in action against Dublin's Con O'Callaghan last April. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

He went on to come off the bench for Kevin Walsh’s Galway senior side in this summer’s championship meetings with Donegal and Kerry.

McDaid, who plays football with Monivea-Abbey and hurling with Craughwell, previously won an All-Ireland minor hurling medal with Galway in September 2015.

Irish prospects Stefan Okunbor and Cillian McDaid put their hands on the AFL cup as they ponder what might be ! pic.twitter.com/RNs7aoR0wS — Kevin Sheehan (@AFL_Shifter) September 26, 2017 Source: Kevin Sheehan /Twitter

There had been strong speculation that Carlton were looking to pick up the 20-year-old, who has previously twice tested in the AFL academy in the USA.

Last year he was one of three Irish players who tested in Florida with the other two – Westmeath’s Ray Connellan and Kilkenny’s Darragh Joyce – both subsequently being snapped up by St Kilda.

McDaid will join Louth’s Ciaran Byrne at Carlton, who have a past history of Irish players including the Cork trio of Setanta and Aisake Ó hAilpín, and Ciaran Sheehan, along with Laois man Zach Tuohy, who now plies his trade with Geelong.

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