Sydney Swans’ players Paris McCarthy and Tanya Kennedy have been selected to play for Ireland in the historic NAB AFLW clash against Australia.

The full 25-player Ireland squad was named today for the match against the green and gold, to be played at North Sydney Oval on August 1.

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Fish named to play for Australia

McCarthy, who hails from Kerry in Ireland, arrived at the Swans in 2023 and has played 23 games in the red and white. Kennedy grew up playing Gaelic football in her home country before moving to Australia in 2012. She has played 35 AFLW games for the Swans.

Irish-born Sydney Swans AFLW senior coach Colin O’Riordan has also been appointed senior coach of Ireland. O’Riordan played 34 AFL games for the Swans from 2016 to 2022, before becoming the first Irish-born senior coach in AFL/AFLW history.

O’Riordan said he can’t wait for the opportunity.

“We’re confident we’ve selected a team that will match it with the best Australian players, O’Riordan said.

“We have incredible competitors throughout the squad who are determined to represent Ireland and the Tricolour with immense pride.”

NAB AFLW Australia v Ireland will bring together some of the competition’s biggest stars and emerging talent to celebrate the continued growth of women’s football and the strong connection between AFLW and Ireland.

Played under Australian Football rules (with a Sherrin), the match will be the first AFLW representative fixture since 2017. It will be played at 4.15pm at North Sydney Oval on Saturday, August 1.

Tickets for the match go on sale this Wednesday, 24 June.

Club and AFL members will have access from 10am AEST, before the general public at 12pm AEST.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for youth (aged 15 – 17), $5 for children (14 and under), while a family of four can attend for $50.

The match will start at 4.15pm AEST and will be broadcast live nationally on Fox Footy, Kayo Sports, Kayo Freebies and Binge.

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Zippy Fish finds out she will represent Australia

Join us in this behind the scenes moment where Sydney Swans AFLW star Zippy Fish finds out she will be representing Australia in the upcoming NAB AFLW Australia v Ireland match. Fish gets told by AFLW Senior Coach and Ireland coach Colin O'Riordan.

Ireland's entire squad has been announced as well as it's wider support staff. The entire squad will take to the field, with a structure of 16 on the park, and an extended interchange bench of nine (up from five in regular matches).

Coach: Colin O'Riordan (Sydney)
Assistants: Craig Starcevich (Brisbane), Tadhg Kennelly (GWS academy, Irish Sydney premiership player), Áine Tighe (Irish Fremantle player), Elise Coventry (Geelong assistant)
Chair of selectors: Cora Staunton (retired Irish GWS great)
Football operations: Jess Burger (Collingwood head of AFLW)

IRELAND SQUAD

Blaithin Bogue (North Melbourne, Fermanagh)
Amy Boyle-Carr (Adelaide, Donegal)
Kayleigh Cronin (Adelaide, Kerry)
Neasa Dooley (Brisbane, Kildare)
Jen Dunne (Brisbane, Dublin)
Dayna Finn (Carlton, Mayo)
Erone Fitzpatrick (Carlton, Laois)
Amy Gavin Mangan (North Melbourne, Offaly)
Sinead Goldrick (Melbourne, Dublin)
Rachel Kearns (Geelong, Mayo)
Grace Kelly (Adelaide, Mayo)
Niamh Kelly (Adelaide, Mayo)
Tanya Kennedy (Sydney, Donegal)
Orlagh Lally (Fremantle, Meath)
Niamh Martin (Hawthorn, Tipperary)
Aisling McCarthy (Fremantle, Tipperary)
Paris McCarthy (Sydney, Kerry)
Aine McDonagh (Hawthorn, Galway)
Niamh McLaughlin (Gold Coast, Donegal)
Aishling Moloney (Geelong, Tipperary)
Eilish O'Dowd (GWS, Leitrim)
Orla O'Dwyer (Brisbane, Tipperary)
Erika O'Shea (North Melbourne, Cork)
Sarah Rowe (Collingwood, Mayo)
Vikki Wall (North Melbourne, Meath)