Coney decides to stay at home

Tyrone youngster Kyle Coney will not be returning to Australia after Christmas holidays spent at home and is instead focused…

Tyrone youngster Kyle Coney will not be returning to Australia after Christmas holidays spent at home and is instead focused on featuring for local side Ardboe and, hopefully, the All-Ireland champions.
The 18-year-old footballer signed a two-year rookie contract with Sydney Swans but after five-and-a-half weeks with the club he has decided to remain at home. 
"I'm staying in Ireland for the time being," Coney said today. "I was scheduled to go back on 2 January but the time came to make a decision and I decided not to go back. 
"I weighed up my options when I was in Australia. Now I want to keep my options open and I want to be playing football for Ardboe and Tyrone. 
"It was a very, very big decision. It took a lot of thinking but in my opinion, I've made the right decision," he told BBC Sport. 
"About a week after I came home (for Christmas), I said to my family that this is where I want to be playing football." 
Coney won the All-Ireland minors title with Tyrone and was urged to stay by Red Hand star Seán Cavanagh, but like a number of young GAA talents he was tempted by a trip Down Under. 
He insists, however, the decision to stay at home was one he made on his own. 
"They treated me really well but when I came home, I know this was the place I wanted to be," said Coney. "The plan is to be a part of Ardboe plans this year and hopefully some part of Tyrone's plans too. 
"This was my decision. There was no pressure at all (from anybody)."