18 Facts About Colm Begley

Colm Begley was born on 31 August 1986 and is an Irish Gaelic footballer from County Laois.

Colm Begley has played Australian rules football for the St Kilda Football Club and the Brisbane Lions of the Australian Football League.

Colm Begley began playing gaelic football at a young age at Stradbally GAA and by 19 had debuted in the senior Laios county team, winning the 2005 Senior Football County Final.

Colm Begley was scouted by the Lions football manager Graeme Allan, along with several other potential recruits during a training camp in Ireland, having previously witnessed a near best on ground performance from the young Irishman in the Under 19s International Rules series playing for Ireland against Australia.

Colm Begley was later persuaded to move to Australia as a rookie listed professional Australian rules footballer in 2005.

Colm Begley played his very first game of Australian rules immediately after moving from Ireland to Australia in 2006.

Colm Begley was later elevated to the senior list during the regular season when the Lions suffered a string of injuries.

Colm Begley was named the club's Rookie of the Year in 2007.

Colm Begley's rise after such a short time playing the sport was described as 'remarkable'.

Colm Begley represented Ireland in the senior 2008 International Rules Series with rumours of his delisting circulating; many commentators claimed that he was playing for his career.

Colm Begley appeared in both matches in the series, which Ireland won.

Colm Begley was eventually selected by St Kilda at pick 83.

Colm Begley played in only one of the 22 matches of the 2009 AFL season home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals, winning the club's third minor premiership.

Colm Begley returned to Ireland and attended DCU as an Undergraduate, where he would win the Sigerson Cup with the College in 2015 and be awarded a Colleges Rising Star.

Colm Begley is currently playing for his home club, Stradbally, having initially lining out with Dublin side Parnells on his return, and has returned to inter-county football with his native Laois.

Colm Begley has represented his country in the International Rules Series on no less than 12 occasions; in 2006,2008,2010,2011,2013,2014 and 2015.

Colm Begley is one of only six players to have played 12 or more games in the series and he is one of only two players to have won nine tests.

Colm Begley has scored a total of 15 points for Ireland and is the second-highest scoring Laois player in the series.