Former Tyrone star Conor McKenna one step closer to AFL Premiership title as Brisbane defeat Geelong

Tyrone’s Conor McKenna could feature in his second successive AFL Grand Final after his Brisbane Lions defeated Geelong 95-85 in the Preliminary Final in front of 93,066 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The Eglish native is bidding to become only the second Irishman after Kerry’s Tadhg Kennelly to win both an All-Ireland SFC title and an AFL Premiership.

Having won the Sam Magurie with the Red Hands in 2021, McKenna resumed his AFL career at Brisbane in 2022 and helped the Lions reach the decider last season, but they suffered a 90-86 loss to Collingwood in one of the great AFL Grand finals.

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Brisbane will take on Sydney in this year’s final after the Swans eased to a comfortable 95-59 win over Port Adelaide on Friday.

McKenna didn’t start Saturday’s game, but he was called into action after ruck Oscar McInerney picked up a dislocated shoulder in the third quarter and his participation in next week’s final is in serious doubt.

McKenna set up Logan Morris for a goal in the fourth quarter as the Lions fought back from being 55-36 behind at half-time to win by 10.

There was disappointment for another Irishman on the night as Laois star Zach Tuohy ended his AFL career after being left out of the Geelong squad for the Preliminary Final.

Mayo’s Oisin Mullin did feature for the Cats, but was on the wrong side of the result.

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