Conor McKenna has dedicated his AFL Premiership triumph to his family and GAA club back home in Tyrone after his Brisbane Lions overcame Sydney Swans in the grand final at Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.
The Lions, who narrowly lost in last year’s grand final, sailed to an 18.12 (120) – 9.6 (60) victory over the Swans.
BRISBANE, WE DID IT! 2024 AFL PREMIERS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/1uDTvuS3ev
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) September 28, 2024
The win marks the first time in 21 years that the premiership title will be brought back to Brisbane, and makes McKenna’s return to Australia in 2023 worthwhile.
The 28-year old moved down under in 2014, signing a six-year contract with Essendon which concluded in the midst of the Covid lockdown in 2020.
After contracting Covid-19 that year and becoming the subject of an intense trial by media, McKenna announced his retirement from the sport and returned to Tyrone.
Towards the end of 2020, McKenna resumed his Gaelic football career and managed to snatch an unlikely All-Ireland medal – Tyrone capitalising on Dublin’s mysterious off-year to win 2021’s straight knockout championship.
McKenna was prominent enough in the success, slipping home two goals as they caught Kerry on the hop in the semi-final.
In the final, he laid on the killer second goal for Darren McCurry with a stylish no-look fist pass across goal.
Two years on from that success, he returned to Australia before the 2023 season, signing for the Lions.
Less than two years on from that decision, McKenna joins Kerryman Kennelly as the only two people who can say they’ve lifted both the Sam Maguire Cup and the AFL Premiership trophy.
Speaking to Australia’s 7NEWS in the bowels of the MCG, McKenna was draped in the Irish tricolour as he explained his emotions.
“Unbelievable. Obviously got so close last year, this year we got written off, no one would have thought we’d get here,” McKenna said. “It’s just crazy. It’s surreal. Still has to soak in properly but unbelievable.”
“I thought I picked the best team but to be in two grand finals in two years, it’s crazy, and the club’s getting better,” he said. “There’s young players coming through, a lot of players injured this year, so it’s definitely the right decision.
“I play for my family and my club back home, without them I wouldn’t be here. I’m just so proud of what they’ve done for me. It’s all for them.”
His home club, Eglish GAA, echoed his sentiment with a post on social media.
Huge Congratulations to Conor McKenna as he becomes only the second man in history to win AFL Grand Final and an All-Ireland medal. Well done to Conor and his Brisbane Lions team on their impressive victory over Sydney Swans this morning 👏🏆. pic.twitter.com/q3adByMnVK
— Eglish GAC (@EglishGAC) September 28, 2024
