Donegal exile Eimear Alcorn putting down roots in London

On a day when a number of her former clubmates will be in action for Donegal in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship, Eimear Alcorn will be busy with her own inter-county assignment this afternoon. 

Hailing originally from the Termon club – with whom she won a Donegal SFC crown in 2019 – Alcorn has just ended her second year of an undergraduate degree in physiotherapy at the University of East London (UEL).  

She transferred to Tir Chonaill Gaels upon her arrival in the English capital a little under two years ago and subsequently made her debut for London in a six-point defeat to Limerick in the Lidl National League in February 2022.  

Alcorn remains a part of manager Patrick Bowles' plans for the 2023 season and was selected at right half-back for their impressive TG4 All-Ireland Junior Football Championship Group B triumph over Derry at McGovern Park in Ruislip a fortnight ago.  

While she will begin her day in Navan, Alcorn and her London colleagues will then embark on a trek up to Donagh for a crucial group stage encounter with 2023 All-Ireland junior finalists Fermanagh (throw-in 1pm). 

"Getting that Derry game back home in Ruislip was a nice treat for us. That you’re actually getting up in your own house, getting your own breakfast in you, going to the game a bit normal-ish," Alcorn said of just the second home game London have had since she joined the panel. 

"For the Fermanagh game this weekend, we’re actually flying on Friday evening (yesterday). A good few of us are having to leave work early for a 7pm flight. Into Dublin on Friday night and then getting back down to Dublin on Saturday after the game to come back to London Saturday night. 

"We’re not even staying around the Fermanagh area. We’re staying in Navan