Down minor star Caolan Mooney has signed for Aussie Rules outfit Collingwood on a two-year international rookie deal.

The 17-year-old forward impressed the Melbourne club during a month-long trial earlier in the summer and will be following in the footsteps of Down senior Martin Clarke who played for the Magpies for three years before returning home to play a starring role in the Mourne County's march to this year's All-Ireland football semi-final.

Another former Down underage star, Jamie O'Reilly, is currently on the books of Richmond and recently broke into their senior set-up.

Mooney will complete his second level studies at St. Colman's College, Newry next year before joining Collingwood in the autumn. He has been given a special training programme by Collingwood to help prepare him for Aussie Rules.

Mooney won the MacRory Cup and the Hogan Cup with St Colman's this year and is regarded as one of the brightest prospects on the Ulster football scene at present. Tweet

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