Leitrim's Eilish O'Dowd officially signs with AFLW's Great Western Sydney Giants

Leitrim will officially have a second player lining out in the AFLW this coming season after it was confirmed that former Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins and Leitrim, All-Star nominee and Dublin All-Ireland winner Eilish O'Dowd has signed with the GWS (Great Western Sydney) Giants for the coming season.

Announcing the news on social media, GWS Giants revealed that O'Dowd, a former athlete with Ballinamore Athletic Club, had tied club’s all-time AFLW record for the 1.6km time trial on Monday and stressed her athletic potential as Eilish has been signed as an utility player.

Eilish joins fellow Leitrim native Aine Tighe as the second Green & Gold player to join the Irish exodus to the AFLW with a record 34 Irish players confirmed for the coming season as  Offaly dual player Kate Kenny has joined Geelong Cats and Fermanagh's Blaithin Bogue, who faced Leitrim in the Lidl LGFA NFL recently, is joining the North Melbourne Kangaroos at the end of her inter-county season.

The former Ballinamore player has had a whirlwind 12 months, breaking into the Dublin team after impressing for new club Na Fianna in the 2022 Club championship before winning a start place with Mick Bohan's side that eventually won the All-Ireland Senior title last year. Eilish was also nominated for an All-Star award for her performances with Dublin.

In their press release announcing O'Dowd's signing, Giants Media said "The GIANTS’ AFLW side has finalised its list for the 2024 AFLW season, signing athletic Irish rookie Eilish O’Dowd. Hailing from the small town of Ballinamore, Ireland, O’Dowd joins the GIANTS after playing an instrumental role in Dublin wining the All-Ireland Gaelic Championship last year.

⭐️NEW IRISH AFLW PLAYER⭐️

CONGRATULATIONS Eilish O’Dowd☘️ who will play with @GWSGIANTS in AFLW 2024

Eilish has been signed as a Rookie in by GWS.

We are delighted to have assisted Eilish secure her AFLW opportunity & cannot wait to see her in action next season #AFLW pic.twitter.com/2RLD8bPBZA

— AFLW Ireland (@aflw_ireland) March 5, 2024

"Having represented her county in Gaelic football at the highest level since juniors, the 25-year-old becomes the fourth Irish player signed by the GIANTS’ AFLW side since 2016. Standing at 180cm tall, O’Dowd boasts a range of physical attributes the GIANTS believe will translate well into the AFLW system.

"Taking little time to make a strong first impression, O’Dowd equalled the club’s all-time AFLW record for the 1.6km time trial on Monday at the VAILO Community Centre.

BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR LEITRIM'S DUBS - THE LAST POINT

"GIANTS Executive General Manager - Football Strategy and Operations, Briana Harvey, said the club is thrilled to welcome O’Dowd to the GIANTS: Eilish has been a star of Gaelic football back home for some time and after keeping a close eye on her last season we are rapt to have her become a GIANT for season 2024,” Harvey said.

“She has some very strong physical attributes that we think we can translate really well to AFLW and we’re excited by her versatility and her ability to play a variety of roles. Eilish’s aerobic capacity is at an elite level and seeing her tie the record for the ‘GIANT Mile’ yesterday was awesome to see and we’re excited about what she can bring to the group.

EILISH O'DOWD REVIEWS A SPECTACULAR 2023 IN OBSERVER SPORTS REVIEW OF THE YEAR

“Our list for the 2024 season is now complete and we can’t wait to utilise the upcoming VFLW season to get a head start on our preparations and be raring to go come the start of the AFLW season later in the year.”

This year the GIANTS will take part in the VFLW competition for the first time since 2019, playing five games for premiership points across the season. Consisting of the majority of the club’s AFLW side, the GIANTS will kickstart their VFLW campaign against Carlton on Saturday, April 6 at Ikon Park.