By Michael McMullan

TYRONE All-Ireland winner Conor McKenna will return to the AFL with Brisbane Lions next season after making the decision to return to Australia.

McKenna won an All-Ireland with the Red Hands in 2021 but was one of a host of players to pull out of the panel this season.

The Eglish man, who played with Essendon Bombers during his last stint ‘Down Under’, has chosen Brisbane after talks with a number of clubs.

The AFL website reported talks with Brisbane, Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Essendon last week.

It’s a blow to the Red Hands hopes of getting tbeir hands on the Anglo Celt  Cup and challenging for a fifth All-Ireland.

Tyrone will begin 2023 in Division One and face Monaghan in the Ulster SFC.

Managers Brian Dooher and Fearghal Logan will have been impressed with the form of Darragh and Ruairi Canavan in the recent club championship with Conor Cush hitting 1-7 in Ulster University’s defeat to UCD on Wednesday night.