Westmeath minor football star Israel Ilunga has been granted Irish citizenship.

Born in Liberia, Ilunga has featured at full back for the Lake County U18s for the past two years and is rated as one of the county's brightest prospects. But he had faced the threat of deportation until last week when he was made an Irish citizen.

"This is very important for Westmeath football going forward," Westmeath minor manager Tommy Carr is quoted in the Irish Examiner.

"He has been granted citizenship and for Israel himself, it is a big weight off his mind.

"It's very difficult to commit to a community or a country let alone a GAA team when you're wondering if you could be gone in a month's time.

"That fear was absolutely there. You put yourself in that position, when you're waiting on someone to decide if they're going to deport you back to Liberia or leave you here.

"I think you'd find that a very difficult situation to be in. So it really is terrific news."

Ilunga, who at the centre of a racism controversy following Westmeath's Leinster MFC semi-final victory over neighbours Meath last year, was one of the Lake County's better performers in their heavy quarter-final loss to Offaly in Tullamore last Friday before going off injured.

An All-Ireland Vocational Schools medallist with Cnoc Mhuire, Granard in 2013, he has attracted interest from Aussie Rules clubs and attended a trial held by Tadhg Kennelly a few months ago. Tweet

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