Leitrim's Eilish O'Dowd tipped to head for AFLW

Ballinamore's All-Ireland winning Dublin player Eilish O'Dowd is being tipped to join Aine Tighe in the the AFLW League according to report in the Irish Examiner this evening (Thursday February 1).

According to Maurice Brosnan of the Irish Examiner, O'Dowd, who was nominated for an All-Star last year after Dublin's success in regaining the Brendan Martin Cup, is working with AFLW Talent ID coach Mike Currane, who is also an accredited agent.

Aine Tighe is the only Leitrim player to have made the exodus of LGFA players to Australia, starring with the Fremantle Dockers in Perth last season after two injury wracked years that were ended prematurely by serious injury.

It is believed that O'Dowd is set to join the GWS (Great Western Sydney) Giants, the club for which Cora Staunton forged an impressive career with, attaining legendary status in the game while former Cork legend Brid Stack also played with the New South Wales club.

Should O'Dowd join the GWS Giants, it would mean that both of Dublin's midfielders from last year's All-Ireland success would play this season in the AFLW, although Jennifer Dunne has recently confirmed that she will be back to help the Jackies' bid to retain the Brendan Martin Cup.

IRISH EXAMINER REVEAL LEITRIM STAR TO JOIN AFLW

Thirty-three Irish players took part in the AFLW in 2023, a record although Roscommon's Jennifer Higgins & Fermanagh's Joanne Doonan have both been delisted while Ailish Consodine, a two time Premiership winner, has since retired.

O'Dowd famously played for Leitrim for some years before transferring to join Na Fianna in Dublin for work reasons. After the Glasnevin club impressed in reaching the Dublin Final, O'Dowd was asked to join the Dublin panel in 2023 and it turned out to be an amazing one that ended up with an All-Star nomination and an All-Ireland medal.

EILISH O'DOWD LOOKS BACK OVER THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF AN INCREDIBLE SPORTING YEAR IN 2023

Eilish's sister Laura was Leitrim Ladies Vice-captain last year and instrumental in Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins' run to the All-Ireland IFC Club Final while her cousin Keith & Dearbhaile Beirne have also been lighting up the sporting world, Keith top scorer for Leitrim last year while Dearbhaile won the SSE Airtricity Women's National League title with Peamount United.