O'Hara signs for AFL giants

(Above) Fionn O'Hara.

Mullingar's Fionn O'Hara has signed for AFL giants Hawthorn.

O'Hara, who played underage football with Westmeath and rugby with Leinster, has signed a two year international category B rookie contract with Hawthorn, one of the most successful teams in the history of the AFL.

The 19-year-old St Loman's and Mullingar RFC club man and his family travelled to Melbourne to meet Hawthorn officials in January 2020. Announcing his recruitment on its website, Hawthorn said that O'Hara “possesses the rare combination of elite speed and endurance”.

Hawthorn's national recruitment and list manager Mark McKenzie said that the club had been monitoring O'Hara's progress for a number of years.

“We’re rapt to be able to bring Fionn on board after having our eye on him for three years,” McKenzie said.

“Over the course of the time we’ve got to know him, we’ve found him to be a really high-level character with a great work ethic and a real understanding of professionalism having had that experience in those elite pathways.

“He has worked hard already to hone his AFL skills, so he’s already developed some strong kicking skills coupled with being a good decision maker with ball in hand as well.”

“Fionn actually visited the club in early 2020 and spent some time in Melbourne throughout that period along with his family,” McKenzie continued.

“So, he already knows a bit about the city as well as the standards and expectations of being a professional footballer, so that should help him with his transition across to Australia.

“We expect him to enter the program early in the new year.”