Irish Echo Sport

Laois’s Colm Begley has become the latest Irish AFL player to give up on an Aussie Rules career, with the news confirmed today that he has quit St Kilda to return to Ireland.

The decision comes in the wake of a raft of recent defections, with Martin Clarke and Kevin Dyas both recently quitting Collingwood and Brendan Murphy’s departure from the Sydney Swans over a month ago.

Begley made just one senior appearance for the club last season, although considering the fact that he was attempting to break into the best overall team in the competition, it could be argued that his year hadn’t been an entirely unsuccessful one.

Laois's Colm Begley pictured shortly after signing for St Kilda late last year. The former Brisbane Lion has quit the club to return to Ireland.

His form with the Saints’ feeder club Sandringham had been consistently excellent, while he had also made the team’s list of emergencies on more than one occasion.

However, despite all that, the club revealed today that Begley had decided to call it quits and head back home.

“It has been a mutual decision between the club and Colm for him not to be retained on St Kilda’s list. Colm has expressed an interest to return to Ireland to pursue additional interests and we appreciate his efforts at the club during the past 12 months,” St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said.

The news comes hot on the heels of the revelation that Kerry star Tommy Walsh has signed with the Saints, while Walsh’s Kingdom team mate David Moran is understood to be en route Down Under for a two-week trial.

Elsewhere, Begley’s county compatriot Zac Tuohy is understood to have signed a two-year rookie deal with Carlton, joining Cork’s Setanta Ó hAilpín who recently put pen to a new deal with the Blues.

Cork’s Ciaran Sheehan had also been offered a rookie deal at Carlton but turned it down to pursue a GAA career with the Rebel County.

Meanwhile, a raft of other Irish youngsters are understood to have had trials in recent weeks, with Donegal’s Sean O’Kennedy trying out with Collingwood and North Melbourne offering opportunities to Dublin’s James McCarthy and Cavan’s Barry Reilly.

Down minor star James O’Reilly has also signed a two-year deal with Richmond, becoming the club’s first-ever Irish recruit.

 by Aaron Dunne