MAYO’S PEARCE AND Cian Hanley have returned home to Ireland from their respective clubs in the Australian Football League.
Fox Sports in Australia is reporting the news and in a joint-statement, the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions have vowed to “provide all the support the family needs during this challenging time.”
Tommy Hanley, younger brother of Pearce and Cian, is battling cancer and the clubs, in their statement, have requested “that the media respect the privacy of the players and the Hanley family at this time.”
Pearce and Cian were together at Brisbane Lions before Pearce made a recent switch to the Gold Coast Suns.
Cian played his first game for the Lions at the weekend, against the Suns, in a North Eastern AFL pre-season match.
The Herald Sun newspaper is reporting that Cian was spared news of a deterioration in Tommy’s health until after the match.
Cian and Pearce met at the Metricon Stadium and finalised plans to come home.
No time-frame has been placed on their returns.
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