Eilish O'Dowd relishing Dublin role after switch from Leitrim

Her journey to the squad could be best described as 'the road less travelled', but Eilish O’Dowd has been embracing her new adventure as a Dublin senior ladies footballer.

A native of Leitrim, O’Dowd represented her home county with great distinction from underage level right up to the adult grade. In August 2019, she helped them to retain their TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship status with a relegation play-off win over Wicklow.

Yet by the time Leitrim returned to the same competition the following year, O’Dowd had opted out of the panel. A graduate from the Marino Institute of Education who now works as a primary school teacher at St Vincent’s GNS in Ballybough, she spent most of her time in the Leitrim senior set-up commuting from her base in Dublin.

This eventually took its toll and was also a major factor behind a subsequent decision to transfer from her home club of Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins to Na Fianna in 2021. Her impressive form for the latter captured the attention of Dublin manager Mick Bohan and after previously being part of a development squad within the county, O’Dowd made her competitive debut for the Sky Blues against Meath in Division 1 of the Lidl National League in January of this year.

"I’ve really been enjoying it. It has definitely been a big change for me, but overall I’ve really had a good experience so far. The girls are all very welcoming. They’ve made me feel really welcome into the group. I can feel myself getting stronger and I’m learning a lot," O’Dowd enthused.

"I was completely overwhelmed to have even made the panel, but then to have gotten a starting position as well. I was delighted. It was great that we got the win as well. There were a lot of mixed emotions going on. First time