Donegal’s Yvonne Bonner is the last Ulster woman left standing in the AFLW’s final series following a sensational weekend of semi-final action in Australia.
On Saturday, the Glenfin footballer won the battle of Donegal when she booted two crucial first half goals to help the Adelaide Crows thrash the Sydney Swans at Norwood Oval in Adelaide.
Fellow Tir Chonaill native Tanya Kennedy was on the Swans team who were crushed 82-15 in a one-sided semi-final.
The Crows are now through to an away preliminary final against North Melbourne next week with the winners advancing to the 2024 AFLW Grand Final on December 3.
The Kangaroos have the advantage of holding hosting rights as well as an extra week’s rest, but Adelaide won the minor premiership after finishing top of the regular season ladder, which sets the stage for an epic contest.
The Crows led from start to finish against the underdog Swans. Bonner booted two crucial first half goals to set up their victory.
Her second goal on the stroke of the half-time siren gave Adelaide the impetus to continue from where they left off in the second-half.
Our favourite Irish stars combine for Bonner's buzzer beater #weflyasone via @aflwomens pic.twitter.com/AYPTkvlVH0
— Adelaide Crows AFLW (@CrowsAFLW) November 18, 2023
The Crows kicked six goals across the second and third terms to establish an unassailable lead.
Bonner finished the game with 9 disposals (7 kicks & 2 handballs), 4 marks, and 2 tackles, in the Crows forward line.
Tanya Kennedy struggled to make an impact. One of Sydney’s most consistent players this season, the Castlefinn woman uncharacteristically only managed two disposals and three tackles.
Despite the enormity of the defeat, the Swans can hold their collectives heads up high.
They did not won a game in their inaugural season as an AFLW side last year and, against all expectations, embarked on a fairytale run of success this time around, which led to a stunning away qualifying final victory over the Gold Coast Suns last week.
On Sunday, the Mackin sisters' season came to an end when the Melbourne Demons premiership defence came to an end 45-50 at home to the Geelong Cats at Ikon Park in Melbourne.
Thirty points down in the final term, Melbourne rallied late on to dominate one of the greatest AFLW games ever played to reduce their arrears to single figures, but Geelong would not be denied. The Cats are through to an away preliminary final against Brisbane in the other half of the draw.
For Melbourne, the pain of defeat will linger during the off-season. After losing to Geelong, they became only the second AFLW side to be knocked out of finals in straight sets which came on the back of their qualifying final loss to North Melbourne at home last week.
The Demons struggled for form and consistency at the business end of the season, losing three consecutive games for the first time in their history and in so doing missed the opportunity to become the first AFLW side to win back-to-back premierships.
Blaithin Mackin finished with 13 disposals (11 kicks & 2 handballs) and 4 tackles in midfield.
Shane O’Neill’s and Armagh forward Aimee, the older sibling, collected 10 disposals (7 kicks & 3 handballs) and 3 tackles. She also booted a goal but it was too little, too late for the 2023 premiers.