 Colm played a crucial part in Stradbally's Laois championship title win stopping Portlaoise going for their 10 in a row title when a Jody Dillon last minute goal beat Graham Brody who could only watch with disbelief.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.Begley was later persuaded to move to Australia as a rookie listed professional Australian rules footballer in 2005.