HOW’S THIS FOR dedication – one Letterkenny woman missed the chance of appearing in a European final today as her club plays in an All-Ireland semi-final tomorrow.
Talented all-rounder Leona Russell played for the Irish Banshees in the AFL European Championships in London this week.
However, the Letterkenny native skipped the Grand Final of the tournament today at Motspur Park to get a flight home ahead of Bonagee United’s WFAI Intermediate Shield semi-final against Manulla in Mayo tomorrow.
AFL Europe’s triennial 18-a-side tournament is a warm up for the AFL International Cup, which takes place in August 2017.
[adrotate group=”37″]Russell was one of the mainstays on the Banshees team this week for group games against the Swans and the Euro Crusaders and would have been in line to play the final but for her dash home.
GB Swans overcame the Banshees 1-2 (8) to 0-2 (2) in the final with Russell a big miss for the Irish team.
The Irish Banshees squad
Russell plays club AFL for the Ulster Kookaburras and came through a trials process to be selected for the Banshees, along with nine other players from Donegal: Kilcar’s Amy O’Donnell and Niamh McFadden; Gaoth Dobhair’s Aisling Gillespie (who scored six goals this week), Carolann Cassidy, Fiona Roarty and Rachael Nic Aoidh; Buncrana’s Claire Doherty and Mairead Walsh; and Termon’s Sonia Connaghan.
[adrotate group=”70″]Tomorrow, Russell – who also plays Gaelic football for Leterkenny Gaels – will hope to fire Bonagee into the WFAI Intermediate Shield final.
Seamy McGinty’s team, who were pipped to the Donegal Women’s League title by Lagan Harps on Monday night, defeated Finglas 2-1 in the quarter-final with Natalie McFadden getting a brace of goals, an equaliser in added time and a winner in extra time.
[adrotate group=”46″] Tags: