Early blow for new Meath boss Robbie Brennan with Royals set to lose rising star to AFL
Robbie Brennan has just taken the Meath reins from Colm O'Rourke and is already putting his plans in place, but he'll have to make do without one key man.
Meath GAA have suffered a major blow with rising star Eamonn Armstrong joining Australian Rules side St. Kilda.
The brilliant Duleek Bellewstown man is a former Ireland underage soccer player who starred for the Royals in their Leinster under-20 title win last year.
Armstrong was just 17 in Meath’s run to a first provincial title at under-20 level in 23 years, but his form meant he was crowned the Leinster Player of the Year at the grade.
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A maurauding display in the Leinster final win over Louth, in which he set up a goal and scored another with his freakish athleticism and stamina, made him a shoe-in for the award as he compiled 1-2 that afternoon.
Armstrong reached a level during the campaign where teams were having to man mark him, despite his wing back role, and it was patently obvious he was made for Australian Rules.
St. Kilda have revealed that Armstrong, who recently turned 18, will first finish his Leaving Cert before joining them.
The news will come as a major blow to Duleek-Bellewstown and Meath GAA, but Armstrong may still be available to the county’s under-20 side as they bid to retain their Leinster title.
New Meath senior manager Robbie Brennan would already have been eyeing up Armstrong as the type of player he could draft in later in the year as he seeks to rebuild the Royals.
Armstrong is regarded as the brightest young star to emerge in Meath football since Conor Nash, who was snapped up by Hawthorn and is carving out an impressive career in the AFL.
A St. Kilda statement was rich in praise for themselves: “St Kilda is leaving no stone unturned in its quest for success, signing young Gaelic prodigy Eamonn Armstrong as a Category B Rookie ahead of Season 2025.
“Hailing from Ireland’s County Meath, just outside of Dublin, Armstrong first caught the eyes of Saints recruiters in an impressive string of games for Meath’s under-20 side this year.”
St. Kilda General Manager of Football, David Mason said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Eamonn and his family to the club.
“As a club, we’re committed to exploring every avenue available when it comes to making ourselves better, whether that’s through talent pathways here or through scouting cross-code, international athletes.
“We’re really supportive of Eamonn’s decision to finish school and join us in a few months.
“We clearly see great potential in him and wanted to make sure he had the comfort of knowing he’d secured a place on our list in the meantime to allow him to concentrate on his studies. We look forward to making Eamonn welcome at RSEA Park next year.”
Armstrong said: “I couldn’t be more excited to embrace this opportunity and all of the experiences it will bring. The club has been terrific in really making my family and I feel comfortable with this process.
“I know I have a lot to learn, but I can’t wait to get stuck in and really give it my all.”
St. Kilda also have Cork man Liam O’Connell on their books as a Category B rookie.
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