The Herald is reporting that Austin O’Malley is in the process of transferring from our local club up here in the capital, St. Vincent’s, to St. Patrick’s in Wicklow and that, in anticipation of doing so, he’s already been in contact with Mick O’Dwyer about switching alliegence at inter-county level to the Goat Suckers as well.

I’d say the lads in Vinnies will be sorry enough to see Austie going as he’s been a good servant at the club over the past few years.  The blow will, of course, have been softened by the news earlier in the week that Eamonn Fennell is at last being allowed to leave O’Toole’s and to join our lads in Marino for the coming season.

I guess it makes sense for Austie to do what Billy Joe has already done and try his hand at a new inter-county challenge, now that his time as a Mayo player appears to be over.  James Horan did give Austie a go last month during the FBD but he wasn’t on the panel for the Down match and, in truth, it would have been a bigger surprise if he had been included.

He’ll be a valuable addition to Micko’s squad in the Garden County, though, and I’d expect him to do well there (assuming that is what he’s going to do).  Given that they’re in Division Four and we’re in Division One, there’s no chance we’ll meet anytime soon in the league but maybe our paths might cross in the qualifiers at some stage.  If they do, let’s hope he won’t land any scores like this against us.