Former Laois LGFA star earns Irish AFLW selection
The 2022 All-Ireland Intermediate winner will line out for Ireland before the AFLW season gets underway
Former Laois LGFA and Park-Ratheniska footballer Erone Fitzpatrick has been named on the 25-player Irish AFLW squad that will face an Australian AFLW selection ahead of the start of the 2026 AFLW season next weekend.
The Carlton player is one of 44 Irish footballers set to feature in this year's AFLW and her selection is the latest accolade in what has been a remarkable sporting journey.
‘Ronnie’ was a key member of the Laois side that captured the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship title in 2022. The forward played a leading role throughout the campaign and scored three points in the All-Ireland final as Laois defeated Wexford to secure promotion back to the senior ranks. She finished with 4-15 in total in the championship that year.
Earlier that summer, Fitzpatrick had been named the Croke Park/LGFA Player of the Month for June after a series of outstanding displays helped Laois reach the All-Ireland semi-final, where they eventually overcame Clare after extra time before defeating Wexford in the decider.
Her performances also earned her a nomination for the TG4 Intermediate Players' Player of the Year award, while she was selected on the TG4 Intermediate Team of the Championship. Fellow Laois player Mo Nerney ultimately claimed the individual honour.
At club level, Fitzpatrick was also immense with Park-Ratheniska. In 2022, she inspired the club back to the senior ranks and was named Laois Intermediate Player of the Year.
Her AFLW progress was temporarily halted in 2024 after suffering an ACL injury that ruled her out for the entire campaign, but she returned in impressive fashion last season.
Fitzpatrick established herself as one of the competition's standout players in 2025 and was rewarded with a nomination for the prestigious All-Australian team, the AFLW equivalent of an All-Star award in Ireland.
Now, another honour has come her way after being selected on the Irish AFLW squad for Saturday’s game at the North Sydney Oval.
Ireland: Bláithín Bogue (Fermanagh), Amy Boyle-Carr (Donegal), Kayleigh Cronin (Kerry), Neasa Dooley (Kildare), Jennifer Dunne (Dublin), Dayna Finn (Mayo), Erone Fitzpatrick (Laois), Amy Gavin Mangan (Offaly), Sinead Goldrick (Dublin), Rachel Kearns (Mayo), Grace Kelly (Mayo), Niamh Kelly (Mayo), Tanya Kennedy (Donegal), Orlagh Lally (Meath), Niamh Martin (Tipperary), Aisling McCarthy (Tipperary), Paris McCarthy (Kerry), Aine McDonagh (Galway), Niamh McLaughlin (Donegal), Aishling Moloney (Tipperary), Eilish O’Dowd (Leitrim), Orla O’Dwyer (Tipperary), Erika O’Shea (Cork), Sarah Rowe (Mayo), Vikki Wall (Meath).
For early risers, live coverage will be available on the TG4 Player and TG4.ie from 7am, with deferred coverage on TG4 from 12.05pm.