AFL host first Ireland trial for women

LAUREN MAGEE could be on her way to join Dublin colleagues Sinéad Goldrick and Niamh McEvoy after the AFL hosted their first Ladies Combine in Dublin over the weekend.

Melbourne was one of three AFL clubs who sent a representative for the event which followed a men’s combine on Friday and Saturday when 18 players were tested.

Recently-retired Kerry footballer Sara Houlihan was among those to impress, getting a better result in the standard yo-yo test than any of the participants in the Australian Combine last September when Galway’s Olivia Divilly was the best performer. Brisbane Lions and Adelaide Crows also sent a representative while Essendon and Geelong had a presence.

There are currently 18 ladies footballers on AFLW lists for next season with the potential for six more from the weekend’s combine.

According to the AFL website, former Kerry minor goalkeeper Deividas Uosis impressed at the men’s combine, clocking 2.76 seconds in the 20m sprint and placing fourth in agility testing.

Four more Gaelic footballers will be brought out to Australia in April for more trials. Mayo’s Oisín Mullin and senior midfielder Matthew Ruane and Monaghan minor Karl Gallagher also showed up well.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Cork will play Tipperary in next year’s Munster Ladies SFC semifinal, with Kerry to face Waterford on the other side of the draw.

The 13 ladies who tested at the first Combine were: Jenny Higgins, Laura Fleming (both Roscommon), Lauren Magee (Dublin), Michelle Farrell (Longford), Vicky Wall, Aoibhin Cleary (both Meath), Niamh O’Dea (Clare), Sara Houlihan, Aislinn Desmond (both Kerry), Michelle Ryan, Caoimhe McGrath (both Waterford), Geraldine McLoughlin (Donegal), Emma Jane Gervan (Tyrone).