Sport

AFLW round-up: Amy Boyle-Carr part of Crows win as Adelaide side eye finals

Kelly family from Mayo fly over from Ireland to witness sibling rivalry

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)
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 footballer Amy Boyle-Carr was in action for the Adelaide Crows in their hard-fought victory (26-22) against a plucky Saint Kilda outfit at Norwood Oval on Friday.

The Crows in fifth on the season ladder are one of a logjam of four sides level on 20 points and vying for a top four spot ahead of next month’s finals series.

The three-time Ulster champion came off the interchange bench to collect 9 disposals (4 kicks & 5 handballs), 1 mark, and 5 tackles.

On a special night for the Kelly family, the proud parents of Boyle-Carr’s Mayo teammate Niamh and sister Grace, who plays for Saint Kilda, flew 10,000 miles across the other side of the world to attend the match.

In the late kick-off on Sunday, the other Ulster-born Amy in AFLW this year, Forkhill woman Amy Mullholand was on the Fremantle Dockers side beaten 25-34 at home to Hawthorn at Fremantle Oval.

The Dockers remain in sixth, level on 20 points with Adelaide, but can’t afford any more loses if they are to secure a top four spot ahead of the play-offs.

Mulholland, who is out of contract at the end of the season and is hoping to sign a new deal for 2025, notched 11 disposals (6 kicks & 5 handballs), 4 marks, and 1 tackle in Fremantle’s forward line.

Also on Sunday, Donegal defender Tanya Kennedy was named as one of the Sydney Swans best players in their 41-44 defeat at home to Geelong at Sydney’s Henson Park.

The Swans third consecutive defeat has all but ended their finals hopes.

Kennedy, whose role is to shut down the opposition’s best player, collected 15 disposals (7 kicks & 8 handballs), 1 mark, and 13 tackles in defence.

The winless Gold Coast Suns miserable season continued on Sunday when they lost 27-36 at home to Essendon at People’s First Stadium.

The Suns only have a draw to show for their efforts in a dire year for the club.

Aussie Rules
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 28: Amy Mulholland of the Dockers is tackled during the 2023 AFLW Round 09 match between The Melbourne Demons and The Fremantle Dockers at Casey Fields on October 28, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images) (Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The only positive was that former Donegal captain Niamh McLaughlin was named as one of Gold Coat’s best players for her match tally of 15 disposals (9 kicks & 6 handballs) 3 marks, and 3 tackles in midfield.

Veteran Down defender Clara Fitzapatrick chipped in with 6 disposals (3 kicks & 3 handballs), 1 mark, and 1 tackle for the wooden spoon favourites.

Armagh’s Lauren McConville was not included in the Suns match-day squad.

Fermanagh star Blaithin Bogue is still waiting to make her debut for premiership favourites, The North Melbourne Kangaroos who remain unbeaten on top spot.

The Brisbane Lions in second place will be without two-time premiership winner Orla O’Dwyer for the rest of the league campaign with a dislocated shoulder.

In other news, Dublin’s James Madden has been delisted by the Brisbane Lions men’s team after opting to return to the GAA.

The former Sky Blues minor and Under-20 played made eleven senior appearances since moving to the AFL in 2021.