Ireland’s Pearce Hanley says he is keen to don the green and red of Mayo once again in the future.
Hanley is currently playing his trade in the AFL with the Brisbane Lions, but was part of the Ireland squad which thumped his host country 80-36 in last Friday’s International Rules series first Test.
He admits to enjoying his time Down Under so far, as well as loving the Australian weather and way of life, but concedes that he does miss home when championship summer comes around.
Hanley, who made his debut for the Westerners in 2007 but was soon snapped up by the Lions as a rookie, watched on from afar as his side won the Connacht title this summer and then went on to stun reigning All-Ireland champions Cork in the quarter-finals.
Their season was ended in the last four by eventual runners-up Kerry (who were then beaten in the final by Dublin), but Hanley thinks it is the start of good times for Mayo and he does feel sad to be missing out on it.
"When championship time comes around, I wish I was at home, but I have a great life out here," Hanley was quoted as saying by the Irish Independent.
"If Ireland had Australia's weather it would be the best country in the world. You can't beat the weather, the beaches, the sea over here.
"(Mayo manager) James Horan is doing a very good job with them so maybe the All-Ireland isn't far away.
"As for me playing for Mayo, I'm still only 22 so hopefully there are a lot of years left in my career. Down the line, I'd like to go back and see how I could get on with Mayo."