LAOIS senior football manager Se·n Dempsey has been handed a timely boost with the news Colm Begley is set to end his involvement with AFL club St Kilda.

The Stradbally native has been offered a fresh one year contract by the Melbourne club but is expected to turn down this offer in exchange for a return home and a place with the Laois senior football panel.

Begley moved to Australia in 2005 after he was signed by Brisbane Lions at the same time as Brendan Quigley.

Home sickness was cited as the reason for the return of Quigley while Begley stayed on with the Lions and played 29 games and kicked seven goals.

The club named him as Rookie of the Year in 2007 but Brisbane decided not to offer him a new contract for the 2009 season after an injury hit 2008 campaign.

The former Knockbeg College student was then picked up by St Kilda in the AFL draft after Collingwood also showed interest in his services.

His time with St Kilda didn’t go to plan as he only made one appearance in the home and away season. This was due to the continued success of the side which were eventually defeated in the AFL Grand Final.

H is probable return will come as good news to Dempsey as the current county football manager looks to boost his squad to ensure a good start to the National Football League campaign.

Laois kick off their 2010 season with an O’Byrne Cup game against DIT on 10 January and this could be the first competitive match for Begley should he return from Down Under.

- By Tomás Moore, Laois Nationalist

Filed under: Laois Football, Laois Clubs, Inter County