End of O’Riordan’s AFL adventure

KILLEA football star Colin O’Riordan may make a return to the Tipperary fold after deciding to hang up his AFL boots. O’Riordan (26) is going to finish up his career in Australia at the end of this season due to ongoing injury setbacks.

A hip injury has restricted the Munster SFC winner to just five appearances for the Sydney Swans in this season.

He has spent seven years with the Swans – during which he has had to overcome several injury problems – and made 34 career AFL appearances.

A highly valued player for the Swans, O’Riordan established himself as a defender who could shut down tall and small forwards - and run with and carry the ball.

He is renowned as a versatile sportsman at the top level of hurling and football as well as the AFL game. In 2015, he won the Eirgrid Under-21 Footballer of the Year award after his side lost by a point to Tyrone in the All-Ireland final.

This Friday sees the Sydney club taking on Melbourne in the second qualifying final of the 2022 AFL Final Series but O’Riordan will not be available to take part.

According to RTÉ, the Killea man is not expected to return to Tipperary football just yet as he intends to remain in Sydney with his partner Louise for the foreseeable future.