MAYO’S CIAN HANLEY is set to join his brother Pearce at AFL club Brisbane Lions.
Brisbane-based newspaper The Courier Mail has revealed that Hanley will join the club despite tearing his cruciate ligament in Mayo’s recent All-Ireland minor semi-final defeat to Kerry.
The Brisbane Lions football manager Dean Warren has revealed that they will show faith in Hanley.
“It is really shattering for him, but we have made a commitment to him and we will stick by him. It is an opportunity for us, he will be able to do a lot of skill acquisition training and work in the gym so we don’t think we’ll lose that much time because of the injury.’’
The news is a major blow to Mayo as Ballaghaderreen club man Hanley was one of the county’s brightest football prospects. He won an All-Ireland minor football medal last year but missed the final win over Tyrone after fracturing his collarbone in their semi-final clash with Monaghan.
This year Hanley captained Mayo to lift the Connacht minor football title against Roscommon before they lost to Kerry in last month’s semi-final clash. Hanley was forced off injured during that game and it transpired that he had torn his cruciate.
Pearce Hanley made the move to Australia in 2007 and made his debut for the club last year. The 25 year-old signed a new five-year contract with the Brisbane Lions last year.
He expressed his delight with the news of his brother joining him and outlined how well Cian had performed in a training programme last year.
“I may have him covered for pace, but endurance wise, he was light years in front of me. I’m thrilled I can be here to help him out but having family here, and another Irishman, will be great for me too.
“I have missed out on watching him play his football so far, so I am really looking forward to that also.”
