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A fortnight after winning his first AFL premiership, Geelong defender Mark O’Connor has returned home to Ireland and helped his local Gaelic side Dingle progress in the Kerry Senior Football County Championship.
Dingle defeated Dr. Crokes in the quarter-finals on Saturday night, with O’Connor reprising his role in the side after being given the tick of approval from Geelong to do so.
It marked the first time in four years O’Connor had played Gaelic competitively.
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Several Geelong teammates made the journey across to Ireland and were on deck to support O’Connor, including premiership teammates Mark Blicavs, Jack Henry and Zach Guthrie.
In 2018, O’Connor played for Dingle without first informing the Cats, which led to him apologising for the misstep.
O’Connor and teammate Zach Tuohy this year became the first Irishmen to win an AFL premiership since Sydney Swans tough nut Tadhg Kennelly in 2005.
Tuohy told foxfooty.com.au at the time how big a part his heritage had played in his AFL journey.
Despite his long absence from Gaelic, O’Connor finished the quarter-final as one of eight scorers for Dingle.
Geelong is one of several clubs interested in Irishman Conor McKenna, who is considering a return to the AFL after retiring from Essendon at the end of 2020.
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