“CONOR loves cups, loves winning. He’s not a lad to just take part, he has to be winning. He’s a supreme competitor. Whether it’s chess, keepie-uppies, shooting practice, whatever, he always has to win and that’s the massive driving force he’s going to bring with him.” – Mattie McGleenan, August 2022. Prescient words. Eglish boss […]
CONOR McKenna is bidding to become the first Tyrone man to win an AFL Premiership medal when he lines out in the block-buster Grand Final this Saturday for his club Brisbane Lions in front of 100,000 enraptured supporters. Only one other native of the county – Brocagh-born Aidan Corr – has played in an AFL […]
By Kieran Lynch “SMILE,” photographer Brendan Monaghan said to Aimee Mackin during her photoshoot for this article, “it’s a happy story.” “It’s a sad story for my mum and dad,” she replied. The Shane O’Neill’s and Armagh ladies footballer recently announced that she is set to join her younger sister Blaithin ‘Down Under’ this winter, signing […]
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, […]
THE news broke this week of Conor McKenna heading back down under for the upcoming season. I’m sure it’s news Tyrone supporters didn’t want to hear at this time of the year. I don’t know Conor personally, but he seems like a bit of a free spirit. So, if this is the right decision for […]
By Michael McMullan FORMER Derry underage star Callum Brown has ended any speculation of linking up with Rory Gallagher’s side after signing another deal with Sydney based AFL side GWS Giants. Brown was one of three players to have their deals extended at the weekend and Giant’s General Manager of Football Jason McCartney was pleased […]
NIALL Gartland looks at some of the GAA players who made it big in the AFL. Jim Stynes (264 appearances) A LEGEND of the AFL. Stynes grew up in Dublin and represented the county at senior level at the age of 18 in 1984. However, he responded to an advertisement in his local paper by […]
By Michael McMullan FORMER Down player Clara Fitzpatrick has committed for another season so AFL club St Kilda. The Bryansford native, who had already spent three years of her life in Australia, was a member of St Kilda’s inaugural side in 2020 and was in the top 10 for the club’s Best and Fairest Award. […]
By Niall McCoy ULSTER’S five AFL recruits are in differing situations as the 2020 season gets set to restart again on June 11. On Saturday, Essendon player Conor McKenna landed back in Australia having flown home to Ireland when the season was postponed on March 22 as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The Eglish […]
Clara Fitzpatrick feels that counties in Ireland could learn lessons from Australian clubs when it comes to integration.
