Former Mayo footballers’ parents fly to Australia to watch daughters face off in AFLW

TWO sisters who donned the green and red of Mayo for several years have faced off in the Australian Women’s Football League (AFLW) for the first time in their careers. 

Niamh and Grace Kelly, who played Gaelic football with Moy Davitts, were watched by their parents Jack and Breda as Niamh’s Adelaide Crows side defeated Grace’s St Kilda.

The Crows got the better of St Kilda on a score of 26-22 after a tightly contested clash in Round 6 of the NAB AFLW.

The ex-Mayo forwards both lined out on the wing when they faced off for the first time in Adelaide’s Norwood Oval on Friday evening (Australian time). 

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, who added that she was ‘delighted’ for her sister Grace. 

“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,” Niamh 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.”

"It was really strange! But very special as well."

Played against her sister on the wing
Parents in attendance

Job well done for Niamh Kelly pic.twitter.com/mNCGa4bfvr

— 7AFL (@7AFL) October 4, 2024

Her parents didn’t take side when they were interviewed on television between the third and fourth quarters. 

“Neutral tonight,” replied Jack, when asked by pitchside reporter, Emily Beaton, who he was supporting.

Breda added: “It’s tense, very tense. But I’m enjoying the game anyways.”

Commenting that he ‘didn’t think it would be as tight’, Jack was soon proven right predicting that the Crows would win. 

All the way from County Mayo!

The parents of Niamh Kelly (Adelaide) and Grace Kelly (St Kilda) have flown a long, LONG way to watch their children play against each other ❤️️ pic.twitter.com/0D6kmiGuWj

— 7AFL (@7AFL) October 4, 2024

The Kellys played for Perth-based West Coast Eagles for their first three years Down Under. 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. She has scored 14 goals and 16 behinds in total.

Grace has made 39 AFLW appearances in total, scoring nine goals and six behinds. In 2021, she achieved the milestone of being the West Coast Eagles’ leading goalkicker. 

The sisters both started for the Mayo ladies in their last All-Ireland final appearance in 2017, which they lost to Dublin. 

They continued to line out for Mayo and Moy Davitts as recently as August 2021, when Mayo were again knocked out of the All-Ireland championship by Dublin in the semi-finals. 

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