Laois duo begin rookie life in Brisbane
Young Laois footballers Colm Begley and Brendan Quigley have touched down in Brisbane ready to begin their lives as Aussie Rules international rookies.
The 19-year-old duo arrived at the Brisbane Lions club yesterday, still feeling the effects of a 25-hour flight, but gung-ho nonetheless about their two-year contracts with the AFL Premiership outfit.
Stradbally defender Begley told the club's website: “Every chap in Ireland would give his left arm to get the opportunity that we have."
Timahoe midfielder Quigley, whose current shoulder injury is expected to heal by Christmas, added: “We will be doing our best to make sure it all works out, but if it doesn’t, we’ll go home much fitter, stronger and wiser.
"My parents are just delighted for me, and I went out for a night with all my family before we left.
“The clubs (back home) and all the local people are just delighted for us.”
Both Begley and Quigley were on the Ireland U17 International Rules side that beat Australia two years ago, and were fast-tracked Down Under after impressing Lions manager Graeme Allan during trials held in Limerick last month.
Having enlisted the advice of Kerryman Tadhg Kennelly, the first Irishman to win a Premiership Grand Final, with the Sydney Swans this year, before committing to a change of codes, Begley and Quigley are due to spend the next five weeks acclimatising in Brisbane before returning home for Christmas.
They fly back to Australia in the New Year.
