Tullamore teenager Cillian Bourke has signed for Essendon after arriving in Australia earlier this week.

Bourke joins the Bombers as a Category B Rookie for the next two seasons. The move comes after the 19-year-old had previously travelled to Australia in September to take part in the AFL Draft Combine, having been training in Dublin throughout the year in anticipation of trials with AFL clubs.

In what is a huge blow to his club and county, Bourke becomes the first Offaly male footballer to make the move to the AFL. The highly-rated midfielder established himself on the Faithful senior team this year, and also starred for his club as they completed a three-in-a-row of county SFC titles for the first time in almost a century.

“We’re losing a fantastic person out of the dressing room,” Tullamore manager Paul McConway said after his side’s Leinster club SFC semi-final loss to Ballyboden St Enda’s last Saturday, which is likely to be Bourke’s last game for the Blues for some time.

“But we wish Cillian the very best of luck. He’s 19 years of age. He’s getting the chance to go and play a professional sport. For anyone that plays sport, I suppose that’s the dream and he’s going to get to live that dream.”

Speaking to the Essendon website, Bourke enthused: “It’s pretty special to be here, and I can’t wait to further experience the professional AFL life.

“I first got involved in AFL around July last year. I was contacted to do a couple of sessions in Dublin with some boys who had links to Australia, and after some testing everything started to fall into place.

“It’s been great getting to know the boys and get stuck into main training. I'm an athletic player and can cover the field up and down, and I’ve got good leg speed and I back myself to be solid on both feet. 

“I’m really looking forward to pushing forward and hopefully becoming one of the Ireland success stories.”

Cillian Bourke becomes a Bomber 🙂‍↕️ pic.twitter.com/fkUsCB0C7C

— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) December 3, 2025

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