Another blow for Cork as Looney joins The Hawks

In another blow to Cork camogie and ladies football sides dual star Hannah Looney has joined The Hawks to play professionally in Aussie rules football next season.

In a statement issued by the club, they said: “Hawthorn has selected Hannah Looney with Pick 51 in the 2025 Telstra AFLW Draft.

“Looney is an Irish recruit with a strong background as a dual athlete for Cork across Gaelic football and camogie.

“The 28-year-old is a six-time All-Ireland senior camogie winner (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024) and a five-time Camogie All-Star.

“Looney is known as a strong competitor with a great work ethic and boasts elite speed and a booming kick. She also brings a wealth of experience across two sports.

“She becomes Hawthorn’s fifth current Irish player at the club, joining Áine McDonagh, Aileen Gilroy and Niamh Martin, as well as Conor Nash in the AFL programme.”

Last week Aoife Healy, another dual player, confirmed she was also heading to Australia and signed a two year contract with the Freemantle Dockers.

Looney has been a star of both sides now for years, and her experience on the pitch and within both squads is another blow to Cork for the coming season.

Cork ladies football manager, Joe Carroll, said: "It's hugely disappointing to be losing Hannah, but we wish her all the best in her new sport. I am sure she will succeed as she did on the football field with Cork ladies and Cork camogie."

Unfortunately, her last action, for now, for Cork saw her sent off in this year’s All-Ireland camogie final.

That was a one-off moment across a career that has spanned more than 10 years with Cork where she has played a major role in seeing All-Ireland titles come back to Leeside.

Looney was also a key player for Aghada senior ladies footballers in 2024 as they won the Cork championship for the first time, and her loss to the club is devastating.

She can play in a wide variety of roles and is comfortable in attack, defence or the middle of the pitch and has scored vital points and goals for the Rebels over that time.

Reacting to the announcement, Eric Smith, manager of the Aghada ladies football side he said: “Hannah has proven herself as an inspirational player for Aghada and the Cork ladies' teams for many years.

“She has been instrumental in driving our pursuit of county success in 2024. We are confident that her talent will shine on the professional stage in the AFL, and Hawthorn is fortunate to have secured her.

“The LGFA may have lost a remarkable player, but the AFLW has gained an exceptional asset. We wish her all the best in this new chapter of her career.”

Both Looney and Healy will be joining a growing number of Irish players now playing professionally in Australia, including the likes of Erika O’Shea and Vikki Wall, both recently part of the North Melbourne Kangaroos side that won the Grand Final recently for the second year in a row.