AFLW-bound Jenny Higgins on taking a year out with Roscommon

It had been a huge part of her life, but for the first time in almost two decades, Roscommon's Jenny Higgins has found herself taking a break from the inter-county game in 2023.

A senior panellist since 2010 - having previously impressed for the Connacht side through the various underage grades - Higgins will be embarking on a new adventure in the coming weeks.

Along with Kerry duo Paris McCarthy and Julie O’Sullivan, the 31-year-old primary school teacher has signed up with Sydney Swans for the forthcoming AFL Women’s season.

Because she is due to touch down in the southern hemisphere for pre-season training in June, Higgins wasn't able to commit to the Rossies this year and missed out on their recent Division 2 campaign.

She acknowledged this was a tough decision, but is nonetheless looking forward to joining forces with the famous Sydney club.

"It was a difficult decision because it was my first year away from a Roscommon set-up in nearly 20 years," explained Higgins, a Glenveagh Homes Gaelic4Girls ambassador.

"I would have played the whole way through when I was 12, the whole way up. I’ve never taken any break really. I was fortunate my club season (with Clann na nGael), we were county champions last year.

They wanted me to be there for pre-season. That cemented my decision, I definitely wouldn't have been able to commit

"We ran well into November and even at that stage, I kind of was thinking about taking a year out."

"When the Swans call came there at the start of December, that kind of cemented my decision. One of the big things for them is that they wanted my leadership and my character in or around the dressing room early on.

"They wanted me to be there for pre-season. That cemented my decision, I definitely wouldn’t have