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6th October 2025
05:25pm BST
Tyrone’s 2021 All-Ireland winner Conor McKenna has made a surprise return to Gaelic football, lining out for his club Eglish in their Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship semi-final on Sunday night.
McKenna, who recently finished the AFL season with the Brisbane Lions, came off the bench and scored a point as Eglish defeated The Moy 2-19 to 1-14 to reach the county final.
It was his first club appearance of the season, and his introduction lifted an already confident side chasing their first intermediate title since 1997.
The 29-year-old has enjoyed an extraordinary sporting journey.
After returning home during the pandemic, McKenna became a key part of Tyrone’s 2021 All-Ireland triumph, adding pace and creativity to Malachy O’Rourke’s attack.
Following that success, he resumed his professional career in Australia, joining the Brisbane Lions. The club went on to win back-to-back AFL Grand Finals, making McKenna one of only two male players ever to win both an AFL Premiership and an All-Ireland Senior title, the other being Kerry’s Tadhg Kennelly.
The Lions lifted the AFL Grand Final again last weekend, but McKenna did not feature in the matchday squad. He has since returned to Ireland and rejoined his club teammates.
While his return delighted Eglish supporters, it remains uncertain whether McKenna will commit to the Tyrone panel for the 2026 season or return to the AFL.
He is currently out of contract after his most recent deal expired, leaving his next move - either in Ireland or Australia - open to speculation.
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