Hanley set to depart

Hanley set for November departure

Edwin McGreal

MAYO GAA star Pierce Hanley will leave Ballaghaderreen for Brisbane on November 7 after confirming that he will take up a two year rookie contract with Australian Rules Football side Brisbane Lions.
Hanley was approached by the Lions in July and was considering his options before agreeing to the move which will see him join other young Irish players like Brendan Murphy and Kevin Dyas who are also set to sign contracts.
For Hanley, who was due to start studying Physical Education in Dublin City University last month and who looked set for a long career with the Mayo senior footballers after making his debut this year aged only 18, it wasn’t an easy decision.
“I wasn’t too sure at the start. I wanted to give it careful consideration and weigh everything up. I’ll find it hard leaving family and friends but it is a great opportunity for me and I couldn’t turn it down and I really can’t wait to go out now,” admitted the Ballaghaderreen man.
Hanley will commence pre-season training with the Lions in November ahead of the start of the Aussie Rules leagues in February. While Down’s Martin Clarke made it into the first team ranks at Collingwood very shortly after joining, most new recruits take longer to make that step-up.
“I’ll be starting at rookie level and hoping to go onto primary level which is the level the first team players operate. Rookie players get sent out to smaller clubs while they are developing,” explained Hanley.
Since Lions coach Graham Allen called to the door of Hanley’s house in Ishlawn, Ballaghaderreen last July, the Queensland based club have stayed in regular contact.
“Graham has been keeping in touch with me by phone or email. I’ll be signing the contract as soon as I go out there and going straight into training. I’ve the option to come home at any stage too if things aren’t working out.
”DCU have been very good to me as well. I thought they’d be upset but they’ve done everything they could to help me. I’ll be going to college out there but I’ll wait and get settled first.”
Hanley has been told that his likely Aussie Rules playing position will be half-back - ‘I’m too small for anywhere else apparently’ - and admits he has been watching the sport religiously since he made the decision to sign.
The man who gave Hanley his Mayo debut, thereby making him the youngest player to start championship for Mayo in the last ten years, is fellow Ballaghaderreen man John O’Mahony.
“There’s no doubt that he’s a huge loss. There was no pressure placed on him. We sought to advise him but you realise the motivation behind these players when they decide they want to go. It’s the chance at a professional sporting life in a nice country.
”He had a big future ahead of him playing for Mayo but that’s on hold certainly. Obviously we wish him the best of luck but he is a loss to us, no doubt about it,” admitted O’Mahony.