Geelong grant Mark O'Connor permission to play for Dingle in All-Ireland final 

O'Connor will be allowed to remain in Ireland for a further two weeks and then return to pre-season training for Geelong

Mark O'Connor has been a key part of Dingle's run to the All-Ireland Club SFC final. Pic: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

Mark O'Connor has been granted permission by his AFL club Geelong to line out for Dingle in the All-Ireland Club SFC final against St Brigid's on January 18.

The 28-year-old midfielder, who has been with the Australian club for nearly a decade, has been a key part of Dingle's run to the decider. 

Mitch Cleary of 7News Melbourne reports that O'Connor will be allowed to remain in Ireland for a further two weeks and then return to pre-season training with Geelong.

It had appeared that following Dingle's Munster final victory over St Finbarr's O'Connor would play no further part for his club in their bid for a first All-Ireland title. He went back to Australia to begin preparations for the new season. However, O'Connor returned to Ireland just before Christmas and lined out in the comeback victory over Ballyboden St Enda's at the weekend, scoring a point.

Geelong has granted premiership defender Mark O’Connor another two weeks in Ireland to play in his hometown Dingle’s quest for a maiden All-Ireland Club Championship on January 18.
He’ll then return to AFL pre-season @7NewsMelbourne @7AFL

— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) January 7, 2026

“I don't want to hear anything about him going back,” Dingle manager Pádraig Corcoran said with a smile after his side's All-Ireland semi-final win. “But no, we need him. He's a massive player for us. We lost Barry Dan O'Sullivan there this year, which is a huge loss for us. Just delighted that we were able to get Mark coming in.

“It was great to have him for the few games in the county championship. We didn't think we'd have him for Munster and then he stayed back and it was a huge bonus for us. It gave the lads a great lift when he did come in for the game today.”