Ireland International Rules player Tadhg Kennelly has become an Australian citizen.
The former Kerry underage footballer, who has carved out a career in the AFL with the Sydney Swans, took out dual citizenship on Monday by swearing allegiance to Australia at a ceremony at Sydney Opera House to mark the launch of National Harmony Day, a federal government initiative to counter prejudice and racism.
The good news for Ireland - who sorely missed him during last autumn's series in Perth and Melbourne through injury - is that Kennelly will continue to represent his country of birth.
"I reckon I will still be an Irishman and obviously I'll still play for Ireland," he said. "I think it's more of an official thing than anything else. Okay now I've got an Australian passport, and that's pretty much it.
"It's easy to come in from another country and I suppose in the long term if I go home and have kids or what not, they can have an Australian passport as well. Obviously you've got privileges and responsibilities with it."
On a related topic, the GAA yesterday said that president Seán Kelly will shortly finalise his decision on the identity of Ireland's new International Rules manager.
"The president has said that he will make up his mind before Congress," according to GAA press officer Danny Lynch, "and announce his decision in the first week in April."
Meanwhile, Tipperary make one change to the side that walloped Wexford last weekend for the visit of Antrim.
Declan Fanning comes in at right wing back in place of Eamonn Corcoran who is rested along with Eoin Kelly.
Withdrawn before the Wexford match, Kelly was replaced by Paddy O'Brien and the Toomevara man holds his place.
TIPPERARY (SH v Antrim): B Cummins; T Costello, J Devane, M Phelan; D Fanning, D Kennedy, D Fitzgerald; E Enright, P Kelly; P O'Brien, J Carroll, B Dunne; S Butler, G O'Grady, L Corbett. Subs: J Cottrell, P Buckley, D Byrne, E Corcoran, T Dunne, E Kelly, P Maher, H Moloney, N Moloney, C Morrissey, B O'Meara, T Scroope, P Shortt, S Sweeney.
