McKenna blow for Tyrone as star set for return to Oz

All-Ireland winner Conor McKenna is to return to Australia and resume his AFL career in a major blow to Tyrone.

Its' understood McKenna, who joined Essendon as a teenager, has informed his Red Hand team-mates of his decision.

He returned to Ireland two years ago and immediately made his senior debut, and last season achieved his dream of winning an All-Ireland medal.

McKenna was a star of the Tyrone minor side that won the Ulster title in 2013, after which he opted to travel Down Under and pursue a career as a professional sportsman.

But he had made no secret of the fact that he wanted to return and win an All-Ireland with the Red Hands.

He played a key role in Tyrone’s 2021 Sam Maguire Cup success, scoring two goals in the semi-final win over Kerry and setting up the clinching goal for Darren McCurry in the final against Mayo.

McKenna’s imminent departure is the latest in a series of forwards lost to Tyrone, following the decisions of Mark Bradley, Ronan O’Neill, Paul Donaghy and Lee Brennan to quit this year.