A special night down under.
A pair of Irish sisters had the strange experience of playing against each other in a Women’s AFL match in Adelaide while their parents – who had made the 22 hour flight from Dublin to attend the game – cheered on from the sidelines.
Niamh and Grace Kelly from Foxford, County Mayo, lined out for Adelaide Crows and St Kilda respectively at the Norwood Oval in Adelaide on Friday night.
Their parents, Jack and Breda beamed with pride as they chatted with 7AFL reporter Emily Beaton shortly before throw in.
When asked which side they were rooting for, Breda appeared too camera shy to answer, but Dad Jack chimed in joking: “Neutral. We’re neutral tonight.”
Breda, who was cleverly wearing both colours in the form of a St Kilda jersey underneath a Crows jacket, added: “It’s very tense but I’m going to enjoy the game anyway.
When asked if the intensity and aggression both players were showing out on the oval was indicative of the way the girls were during their childhood in Mayo, Jack answered: “Definitely, yeah. Every day!”
Niamh’s Crows managed to secure the win with a 26-22 finish, but luckily her sister Grace was all smiles as she reunited with her parents and sister on the grass after the encounter.
According to Mayo Live, both sisters donned the green and red of Mayo for several years before making the move to Australia to play Aussie rules.
The pair played their club football with Moy Davitts growing up, and both started in the forward line for the Mayo ladies in their last All-Ireland final appearance in 2017, which they lost to Dublin.
After moving down under in 2019, Niamh and Grace spent three years on the same team, playing for Perth-based West Coast Eagles.
They then went their separate ways in 2022 when Niamh joined Adelaide Crows while her older sister went to Melbourne-based St Kilda.
Niamh has made 49 career appearances in the ALFW and was named in the league’s Team of the Year last November, while Grace has made 39 AFLW appearances in total, achieving the milestone of being the West Coast Eagles’ leading goalkicker in 2021.
"It was really strange! But very special as well."
— 7AFL (@7AFL) October 4, 2024
🇮🇪 Played against her sister on the wing
🇮🇪 Parents in attendance
Job well done for Niamh Kelly 👏 pic.twitter.com/mNCGa4bfvr
Speaking after the game, Niamh Kelly described the occasion as ‘very special’.
“I think it was a bit of mixed emotions really. Obviously, when we were lining up on the wing together it was very strange but it was very special and to have our parents here is really cool as well,” said Niamh.
“Obviously we had three years together with West Coast over in Perth, so to line up against each other is really weird. But it is a really special moment to have Mam and Dad here in the crowd, Grace’s partner and mine as well, really cool,” she continued.
“It was just so strange that we were both on the wing. It was probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing or whatever we do line out. Just delighted we got the win and credit to the girls for putting in a good fight.”
