GAA star’s dad tackled by security after historic AFL win

A former GAA star’s father was tackled to the ground by security during wild celebrations after his son made Irish sporting history in Australia.

The proud dad in question is Pat McKenna, father of Tyrone’s Conor McKenna, who on Saturday helped Brisbane Lions to a stunning AFL Grand Final victory at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In scenes that quickly went viral, Pat was so overcome with emotion that he hopped the fence to join the on-field party, only for it to go slightly awry.

With families not initially allowed onto the pitch for the celebrations, the horse trainer was spotted racing towards the middle of the ground and promptly brought crashing down by security staff.

Thankfully, Conor was on hand to sort it out.

Draped in an Irish tricolour, the Eglish man walked over, talked the security team into standing down, and ushered his beaming father into the heart of the celebrations, where Pat went on to hug Brisbane player Darcy Wilmot.

Conor McKenna’s dad was tackled by security after running on the field to celebrate with him after they won the Grand final. The Tyrone man was able to step in and bring him over to the party 😀

The chaotic family moment capped an unforgettable day for the McKennas. Conor became the first Irish player ever to win two AFL Premierships as Brisbane completed a remarkable three-peat, seeing off Fremantle 96-89 in a thriller in front of more than 100,000 fans.

The Lions looked dead and buried when they trailed by 17 points late in the game, only to kick the last four goals to snatch it.

McKenna played his part with a superb second-quarter goal and a disciplined defensive job that had AFL pundits purring.

It is the latest chapter in one of Irish sport’s most remarkable stories. McKenna, who won an All-Ireland with Tyrone in 2021, is now only the second man after Kerry’s Tadhg Kennelly to claim both a Celtic Cross and an AFL Premiership.

It comes just days after one of his efforts was named as the AFL’s Goal of the Year.

There is now speculation that Saturday’s decider could have been McKenna’s last game for Brisbane, with talk of a possible return home to Ireland, though nothing has been confirmed.

For now, though, the Tyrone man and his family have every reason to celebrate, security tackles and all.