BROPHY BACK WITH KILDARE
PADDY BROPHY looks set to resume his Kildare career after calling time on his AFL bid with West Coast Eagles. Brophy has been on the books of the Perth outfit for the past two and half years but failed to break through to the first team. He has cited homesickness among his reasons to return. Brophy was a regular at half-back for feeder team East Perth in the WAFL but sat out their game last weekend as he mulled over his future and has since informed the club and his team-mates of his decision to quit. “It’s disappointing it’s over but it’s time,” he told the club’s website. “I am going home for personal reasons, including homesickness, but I have really enjoyed my time at the club. “I will always be grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity. It has been a great experience but I’ll go back home, continue my university studies and play Gaelic football. “I’d like to thank everyone at both West Coast and East Perth for their support. I have made some life-long friends and have really enjoyed the experience.” Kildare have just clinched promotion to Division One but whether the 23-year-old will be added to manager Cian O’neill’s panel ahead of the Championship opener against Laois or Longford on June 3/4 remains to be seen. Brophy is one of a number of talented young Kildare players that have been tempted to Australia in recent years with Sean Hurley (inset top) and Daniel Flynn (inset bottom) signing for the Fremantle Dockers and Port Adelaide respectively – though both have since returned to Ireland. Hurley was part of the Kildare panel earlier this year but withdrew in February in order to focus on his recovery from hip surgery.