Laois Gaelic Football loss is Australia's gain as All-Ireland winner is signed by Aussie rules club

All-Ireland Football winner with Laois, Erone Fitzpatrick is set to ply her trade in the AFLW following her signing for Carlton.

The young woman who plays her club football for Park-Ratheniska was an integral part of the Laois team who captured the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship title in 2022. She was named Intermediate player of the year in Laois after leading her club Park-Ratheniska back to the senior grade.

In the blue and white of Laois, Erone excelled at half-forward and was a constant threat to any defence she faced. Her tally of 4-15 in last year's championship propelled Laois to the Intermediate All-Ireland title, their first since winning their very first Senior All-Ireland in 2001.

Erone was also awarded the The Croke Park/LGFA Player of the Month award for June 2022 following a superb month of football that put Laois into an All-Ireland semi-final against Clare. Laois subsequently defeating Clare after extra-time before beating Wexford in the All-Ireland final. The Park-Ratheniska woman was also nominated for the All-Ireland Intermediate award, with fellow Laois woman Mo Nerney taking the crown. A Team of the Year award was next for Erone as she was named in the TG4 Intermediate Team of the Ladies Football Championship.

This season has gotten off to a good start with Erone picking up where she left off with Laois. She was the hero as her late point secured victory in the league clash against Tipperary on February 19. She was also part of the University of Limerick team who were beaten in the Higher Education O'Connor Cup final by DCU last Saturday.

Her club manager Tómas Moore sent his best wishes to Erone:

"As Erone’s club manager, I’ve thankfully got to witness her talents. Remarkable athlete who was always destined for the big time. Will be sorely missed but looking forward to her furthering her talents in Australia."

Erone follows in the footsteps of another Laois sportsperson as when Zach Tuohy took the plunge to go to Australia, his first club in the AFL was also Carlton.

Fitzpatrick will be a massive loss not only to her club Park Ratheniska but to the Laois Ladies as they begin life in the All-Ireland Senior Championship, where they'll be hoping they can replicate what they done in 2000 & 2001. In 2000, Laois won the Intermediate All-Ireland Championship before taking the Senior Championship in 2001.