Áine Keane: 'Being back on the pitch with the girls brings a smile to my face'

Having missed Galway's 2025 All-Ireland win through injury, Áine Keane is back and ready to help the Tribeswomen defend their title.

Stopping Cork's three-in-a-row bid with a last-second free from Carrie Dolan, Galway had their first All-Ireland since 2021.

An important player for her county, Keane missed a huge part of the 2025 season due to an ACL injury, as well as their league title this year.

For the first time in a while, Keane is back fully fit and looking forward to the action.

While she admits it was not easy to be on the sideline for the All-Ireland, she did what she could to support her teammates.

"It has been a long time coming, just to be back on the pitch with the girls has put a smile on my face.

"It is probably a bittersweet moment, but I am just so proud of the girls for getting over the line. We were four years in the making of getting that All-Ireland success, so I played a part in the team in those years gone by.

"It is tough to sit on the sideline and not be able to help them on the pitch, but I did what I could off the pitch for them.

"When we got over the line, it was just elation. It was just brilliant to get there, and I was so proud of the girls."

Although she was unable to make her influence felt on the pitch, Keane was never far away from camogie during her time injured.

The St Thomas woman will have many years ahead of her in a Galway jersey, but dipped her toe into management during her recovery.

"Nine months seemed like a long time, but it kind of flew by.

"In college, I got involved with the Ashbourne team in the management side of things. That was something new for me, and it was a really good experience. I felt like I was still involved, so that was really good.

"In the league, I helped