Kendrick finds a second sporting home with the Banshees

While the game in Sydney early on Saturday morning was the most high-profile Australian Rules clash between Ireland and Australia last weekend, it was not the only one.

At Virgin Media Park in Cork a home-based Ireland team took on a European-based Australian Rules representative side, showcasing the growing strength of the game on this side of the world.

Among those lining out for Ireland was Kildare's Shauna Kendrick, who has proudly represented the Irish women's Australian Rules team, the Banshees, since 2019.

Kendrick's journey into the sport began through former Banshees manager Mike Currane.

"It was the old Banshees manager, Mike Currane, who got me started. He guided me through college football and asked me to get involved with the Irish colleges team in 2019. From that, I ended up joining the Banshees the same year," said Kendrick.

She is not the only Kildare representative in the squad, with Ellistown's Louise Scully also part of the Banshees set-up.

Well known to local sports followers for her exploits in Sarsfields and Kildare jerseys, Kendrick admits there was an adjustment period when she first made the switch to Australian Rules.

"The tackle was the main thing to get over. The game is actually very similar to Gaelic football in that you have the hand pass. The hop is obviously a big difference because it's essentially a rugby ball and it can go anywhere.

"As a football player, I punt kick, so getting used to kicking the AFL ball was fairly straightforward. It was the tackle that was most difficult. Getting used to taking the tackle and giving the tackle was a bit daunting at the start, but now I love it."

Kendrick continues to play Gaelic football with Sarsfields while also featuring in a thriving Australian Rules scene in Ireland.

"My club team is the South Dublin Swans. You also have the Cork Vikings, the Leeside Lions, the two teams in Ulster and the Galway Magpies.

"The season starts in January and matches begin in the spring. This year, because there is no women's team final, we're playing each team three times. The final is in Mountmellick in two weeks' time. It's ourselves against Cork on August 22."

Representing the Banshees has not only given Kendrick the opportunity to pull on the green jersey but has also allowed her to travel extensively through the sport.

"We've travelled all around Europe at this point and we've also been to Canada, which was brilliant.

"We should have the European 18-a-side Championships coming up soon. We haven't had one in the last two years, so that's the next big target. Then there's the Transatlantic Cup, which is the equivalent of a World Cup.

"We played that in Canada in 2024 and met the United States in the final. That should be coming up again within the next year or two and I think it's going to be in Vancouver."

The sport has provided Kendrick with another outlet for elite-level competition, but even with a growing number of Irish players forging professional careers in Australia, she is not looking too far ahead.

"I suppose if the opportunity was presented to me, I'd have to consider it, but there are so many Irish over there at the moment that it would nearly be like being at home," she said.

For now, Kendrick is content representing her country with the Banshees while also chasing domestic success with Sarsfields as they bid for senior championship honours in Kildare.