McBride heading for Australia this month

St Ultan's and Meath player Cian McBride will resume his career in the A FL with Melbourne club Essendon from mid-January.

McBride, who was midfield on the Meath team that won the 2018 Leinster MFC joined Essendon at the end of 2019 and signed a two-year contract that is set keep him with there until the end of this year at least.

During the AFL off-season, McBride was given permission to link up with Andy McEntee's Meath senior side ahead of preparations for the Leinster SFC.

However, a foot injury picked up in training with Meath limited the St Ultan's man to just one substitute appearance for the Royals in a challenge match against Cavan in Dunganny in October.

Now recovered from that injury McBride is set to return to Australia, with fellow Irish man Ross McQuillan having confirmed his departure from Essendon in recent days after returning home to Armagh.

“Ross will always remain part of the Essendon family and we wish him well for the new year and beyond,” Essendon coach Josh Mahoney told essendonfc.com.au.

“As a list management team, we will now look at the possibility of making a further addition to our playing list for the 2021 season.

“Cian McBride will return from Ireland and is expected to join the playing group in Victoria in mid to late January after completing the relevant quarantine requirements,” concluded Mahoney.