Portlaoise manager Tommy Conroy has denied reports that Aussie Rules star Zach Tuohy was flown home especially for Sunday's Leinster SFC club quarter-final against St. Vincent's.

It was reported on Monday that The Town's main sponsor, Laois Hire, had footed the bill for Tuohy's flight home from Australia, but this has been branded as "absolute rubbish" by Conroy.

"Zach was always around and he wasn't flown home especially for the game," he told The Herald.

"The story that appeared about Zach being flown home is absolute rubbish.

"He didn't train the whole time because he went back to Australia and when he came back, he had a few family events. But he has been with us for the last week really."

The Carlton player missed Portlaoise's county final victory over Arles-Killeen, having scored 2-4 and 0-5 respectively against Portarlington and O'Dempsey's in the quarter and semi-finals, after returning to Australia for a friend's wedding.

But he flew back to Ireland a fortnight ago to attend his sister's wedding in Wicklow and will be around until next Tuesday when he flies back to Australia to begin pre-season training.

"He's in his off-season," Conroy added.

"In fairness to him, he's a great lad. He just turns up and he comes along and he's willing to get stuck in, which is fantastic from our point of view."

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