Pearce Hanley scores first AFL goal

Hanley scores first AFL goal


Mike Finnerty

FORMER Mayo footballer Pearce Hanley was celebrating in Australia last weekend after scoring his first goal in the AFL for the Brisbane Lions.
The 21 years-old Ballaghaderreen native kicked the goal, and racked up 17 disposals, against the West Coast Eagles at the Subiaco Oval in Perth on Saturday night.
It was Hanley’s sixth appearance of the season, and the fifth in succession, as he scored six points to help the struggling Lions to a morale-boosting victory.
His recent elevation to the Brisbane first team could mean that Hanley, who won a Mayo club championship medal in 2008, may come into the reckoning for Anthony Tohill’s Irish International Rules panel later this year.
This is Hanley’s third season with the Queensland club. He played just three games in his first two years with the Lions but has forced his way into the first team recently after recovering from a succession of injuries.