Westmeath starlet Fionn O’Hara is the latest Irish prospect to head down under after being snapped up by AFL club Hawthorn.
O’Hara, from the St Loman’s club in Mullingar, is also a promising rugby player having been on the books with Leinster, lining out for their under-18 side as well as Ireland’s, but has opted to try his hand at Australian rules for now at least after first visiting the club pre-pandemic in early 2020.
He becomes the third Irishman to sign for the club after Meath’s Conor Nash, who has made 29 AFL appearances including eight in 2021 and was also an outstanding rugby prospect, and Dublin star Ciaran Kilkenny, who had a brief spell with the Hawks before committing to Gaelic football in 2013.
O’Hara will be joining as an international category B rookie and his acquisition comes following last week’s news that Fermanagh’s Ultan Kelm has signed for Fremantle Dockers.
Hawthorn’s National Recruitment and List Manager Mark McKenzie commented: “We’re rapt to be able to bring Fionn on board after having our eye on him for three years.
“Over the course of the time we’ve got to know him, we’ve found him to be a really high-level character with a great work ethic and a real understanding of professionalism having had that experience in those elite pathways.
“He has worked hard already to hone his AFL skills, so he’s already developed some strong kicking skills coupled with being a good decision maker with ball in hand as well.”
He added: “Fionn actually visited the club in early 2020 and spent some time in Melbourne throughout that period along with his family.
“So, he already knows a bit about the city as well as the standards and expectations of being a professional footballer, so that should help him with his transition across to Australia.
“We expect him to enter the program early in the new year."
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