Fresh from winning a Munster club SFC medal with Dingle last Sunday week, Mark O'Connor is settling back into pre-season training with his AFL club Geelong.

O’Connor was given permission by the Cats to line out for Dingle in the Kerry SFC semi-final and final as well as the Munster semi-final and final, but has returned to Australia in recent days to commence pre-season training ahead of the start of the 2026 AFL campaign in March.

When asked if the star midfielder would be available for the All-Ireland club SFC semi-final against Ballyboden St Enda's early in the New Year, Dingle manager Padraig Corcoran replied: “I wouldn’t think so, to be honest.

“It is extremely difficult on Mark because he is contracted to play with Geelong and they are all back for pre-season, and I am not so sure how that would work out in terms of getting him back to Ireland.

“If it was a shorter trip and he was able to get home for a day or two, but it's a longer trip and you are probably missing out on a week’s training over there.”

Welcome back, Mark! 👋

Fresh off his Munster Club SFC Final & Kerry SFC Title wins with Dingle, Mark O'Connor is back on the track 🏆 pic.twitter.com/9hJqjrIwY6

— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) December 12, 2025

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