Football

Donegal LGFA await Amy Boyle-Carr’s decision, with confirmation coming ‘towards the end of next week’

The Naomh Conaill player has previously said she would be open to putting her ladies' football career on hold in favour of extending her time in the AFLW

Amy Boyle-Carr of the Crows during the round six AFLW match between Adelaide Crows and St Kilda Saints at Norwood Oval, on October 04, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
AFLW Rd 6 - Adelaide v St Kilda Amy Boyle-Carr of the Crows during the round six AFLW match between Adelaide Crows and St Kilda Saints at Norwood Oval, on October 04, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images) (Mark Brake/Getty Images)
By Ahmer Khokhar

Donegal LGFA bosses will have to hold their collective breath for another week to discover if Amy Boyle-Carr will be available for the 2025 Ladies Championship.

The three-time Ulster champion made significant progress in her debut AFLW campaign this year, featuring in six regular season matches for the Adelaide Crows, despite being left out of their finals squad.

Boyle-Carr is out of contract at the Crows, but a club spokesperson told the Irish News that official confirmation about her status for next year will be made “towards the end of next week”.

The Naomh Conaill player has previously told the Irish News that she is willing to have open discussions about the possibility of missing the LGFA season to extend her AFLW career with the Crows given the two codes will overlap for the first time next year.

Donegal football Amy Boyle-Carr
Amy Boyle-Carr will join up with Adelaide Crows later in the year but insists her focus is now on Donegal

Boyle-Carr was not named as a delisted player on the Crows 2025 playing list which was confirmed this morning but further list changes could still occur.

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Meanwhile, the Crows have signed Grace Kelly, the sister of former Mayo captain Niamh Kelly, from Saint Kilda.

“We are thrilled to welcome Grace to the Club, and we are really looking forward to seeing her play and train alongside her sister Niamh next year,” Adelaide Head of Women’s Football Phil Harper said.

Katy Herron of Donegal in action against Niamh Kelly of Mayo during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Group 4 Round 3 match between Donegal and Mayo at Bord Na Mona O'Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly on July 27 2019. Picture by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
The Adelaide Crows have signed Grace Kelly, the sister of former Mayo captain Niamh Kelly. Picture by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

“She will inject some speed and excitement into our side and she can play a variety of positions which is great.

“Grace is a quality player and person who we think will complement our team nicely.”

In other news, Leitrim’s Elish O’Dowd finished fourth on the Greater Western Sydney Giants ‘Best & Fairest’ Player of the Year award.

The Ballinamore native who won an All-Ireland with Dublin last year also won the GWS goal of the year award for kicking the fastest-ever AFLW goal, just fifteen seconds into her debut for the Greater Western Giants against the Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval in Canberra in round one.

Elsewhere Tipperary star Aisling Moloney finished second on Geelong’s ‘Best & Fairest Player’ voting.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 25: All Australian selections, Aileen Gilroy of the Hawks, Aishling Moloney of the Cats and Aisling McCarthy of the Dockers pose for a photo during the 2024 W Awards at Crown Palladium on November 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
All Australian selections, Aileen Gilroy of the Hawks, Aishling Moloney of the Cats and Aisling McCarthy of the Dockers pose for a photo during the 2024 W Awards at Crown Palladium on November 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images) (Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Cahir native this year became the first Irish player to finish as the joint-leading goal kicker in AFLW, which led to All-Australian honours alongside Aisling McCarthy and Aileen Gilroy.

Dublin’s four-time All-Ireland winner Jennifer Dunne, the only woman to win an All-Ireland Championship and an AFLW premiership, won the Brisbane Lions Rising Star Award and also finished eighth on the club’s Best and fairest count.

Tipperary dual star Orla O’Dwyer was named as the Lions' best finals player.