Lynch the latest to head for Oz
Meath Ladies, and Ladies Gaelic Football as a whole, have suffered another huge blow with the confirmed news that All-Star full-back Mary Kate Lynch has signed an international rookie contract to play in the AFLW with Sydney Swans.
Lynch will join her fellow All-Ireland winners with Meath, Vikki Wall, Orlagh Lally, Aoibhin Cleary and Sarah Wall, Down Under for the 2026 season and is likely to depart after the NFL Div 1 campaign.
The 24-year-old Summerhill player was invited to Australia before Christmas to take part in trials and her speed and athleticism impressed all the scouts.
"We're thrilled to welcome Mary-Kate to Sydney and the club," Kate Mahony, Sydney Swans executive general manager of AFLW Football, told the club website.
"We think the skills she’s developed playing Gaelic football will translate well to AFLW, and we’re excited to bring someone with her speed and defensive attributes into our squad."
Lynch will join Kerry pair Paris McCarthy and Julie O’Sullivan and Donegal's Tanya Kennedy at the New South Wales club.
"It certainly hasn't been an easy decision to leave everything here, but this is definitely the right time for me and you have to take those opportunities when they come around.
"I want to thank my club Summerhill for helping me start on this journey and to Meath Ladies for making all my dreams come true. I also want to thank my parents and I look forward to pulling on that famous red jersey of Sydney," Lynch told the Meath Chronicle.
Lynch will likely come face to face with the Wall sisters when the Swan's face North Melbourne, while Clann na nGael's Lally will feature for Fremantle Dockers and Donaghmore/Ashbourne's Cleary will line out for her second season with Richmond.
When Lynch leaves, Emma Duggan will be the only player that started that famous All-Ireland SFC final win over Dublin in 2021 to be still part of the panel.
Megan Thynne and Niamh Gallogly both came on as subs in that final and they are still key players for Wayne Freeman's side this year.