Bogue targets Croke triumph before AFL adventure

Blaithin Bogue played in Fermanagh's All-Ireland replay win over Derry in 2017 at Clones but missed the victory over Wicklow in the 2020 decider at Parnell Park

Blaithin Bogue is determined to begin her Australian Football Rules career next month as a 2024 All-Ireland winner by helping Fermanagh beat Louth in Sunday's Junior Ladies Final at Croke Park (11:45 BST).

The Erne women won the junior title in 2017 and 2020 but neither of the finals were held at GAA headquarters.

Bogue netted Fermanagh's first-half goal in the 2-9 to 0-11 final replay win over Derry at Clones seven years ago but was not part of the squad in the 2020 win over Wicklow at Parnell Park.

"We haven’t won it in Croke Park but we’re just hoping our captain Shannon McQuaid is going to walk up the steps of the Hogan Stand," Bogue told BBC Sport NI.

The Tempo woman signed a two-year contract with the North Melbourne Kangaroos in February but the AFL outfit agreed she could complete the inter-county season with Fermanagh before heading Down Under.

'See how the other half live'

Bogue's performance in the 2022 All-Ireland Junior decider against Antrim when she hit a remarkable seven points from play in the drawn encounter before the Saffrons won the replay caught the attention of the AFL outfit.

"With the exposure Ladies Football is getting, people are able to see how you are playing," added Bogue, who was signed by the Kangaroos purely on videos that they had seen of her action and not having been involved in any AFL training camps.

"I wanted to wait a while because I wanted to finish my degree and just got it finished there but the opportunity came up and I just thought I’d take it."

The Fermanagh star describes the opportunity to play professional spot as a chance to "see how the other half live".

"If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. At least I can say I’ve tried it."

Bogue will join over 30 other ladies gaelic footballers in the AFL code when the new season begins next month, with the two Mackin sisters Aimee and Blaithin among the Irish contingent Down Under.

And the players are not lost to the GAA either, with AFL clubs generally allowing them to return home for the inter-county season.

Bogue played on the Fermanagh side well beaten by Louth in the 2019 All-Ireland Junior decider at Croke Park

But before Bogue begins her AFL stint, there is the not so small matter of an All-Ireland title to be won.

Bogue would have already been in Australia had Fermanagh not edged out Limerick to 2-12 to 2-10 in the All-Ireland semi-final two weeks ago when Eimear Smyth fired a magnificent 1-8 as the Tempo woman contributed 0-2.

"We were quite emotional after the semi-final because if we had have lost, I would have been away by now.

"My mum came crying to me after the game and my sister Cadhla [who is also part of the Fermanagh team] was the first person I saw after the game. We were happy that we won so I’d another couple of weeks at home."

Bogue and her team-mates will be mindful that they face a Louth side who hammered them 3-13 to 2-6 in the 2019 junior decider at Croke Park.

"It would be just the icing on the cake [if we win]…..please God.

"I will miss the girls especially after the bond we had this year. Everyone is getting on so well. There will be a few tears when I leave."