Up-and-coming Tyrone star Eoin McElholm has headed back to Australia for the second time with hopes of making it as a professional athlete in the AFL.
The talented Loughmacrory teenager flew out yesterday morning and will stay for a fortnight to have a trial with Freemantle Dockers.
Last October, the 19-year-old attacker was also in Oz for a trial but returned home where he helped Tyrone win their second All-Ireland U20 title in three seasons.
“I was at trials up in Dublin a few times last year and was invited out for two weeks to see how I got on,” said McElholm.
“It was different then as it was a trial in front of a number of teams but it has given me a taste of what to expect.
“To be honest, winning an All-Ireland title with Tyrone was always top of my list, especially after missing out on the minor title three years ago and thankfully we managed to achieve that.”
McElholm more than played his part in that success back in May, hitting seven points in the 1-20 to 1-14 victory over Kerry, having hit 1-2 in the semi-final win over Roscommon, two games in which he picked up the man-of-the-match award.
He was immediately called into the Tyrone senior panel and more than held his own in the preliminary quarter-final defeat to Roscommon, getting his name on the scoresheet.
“My target was to make the panel of 24 and after being injured for the Cork game I managed to do that against Roscommon,” he said.
“It was unreal to come on at half-time and it was tough going but it was a day that I will never forget. I was buzzing when I came on but settled down when I got on the ball a couple of times, although it was disappointing that things didn’t go according to plan that day.”
Now he has another opportunity to make it in the AFL and is looking forward to the challenge.
“I will trial and train with them and see how I get on,” he said.
“I found out about a month ago that they were looking me out but I have kept it to myself and my family until the last few days.
“The last time I was over I was taken to the Grand Final and got to see Conor McKenna play. He is somebody that I really admire and he has made a name for himself out there.
“To have the chance of perhaps becoming a professional player is something that I can’t turn down and I aim to go out and give it my best shot and see how it goes and take it from there. It will be tough leaving family, Loughmacrory and Tyrone but I think the time is right to try and pursue it.”
If McElholm does make it there is no doubt that it will be a big blow to Tyrone’s hopes of defending their U20 crown as well as Tyrone seniors going forward as the Omagh CBS Hogan-Cup winning captain from 2023 is one of the best young attacking talents about.