Mayo’s Dayna Finn supported by Galway GAA star love at historic AFLW clash
The Australian AFLW has decided to mix things up before its season commences by taking on the Irish, and for Mayo’s Dayna Finn, her biggest fan has come all the way from Galway to Sydney to support her.
Hailing from a very sporty family, with parents Bernie McGrath and John Finn both playing for their county team, Mayo, Dayna followed in their footsteps and, in 2017, also got to wear the Mayo jersey.
In 2023, she was invited to join AFL's Carlton team in Melbourne, Australia, and has since been chosen for this latest battle.
Pic: Dayna Finn/Instagram
The 2026 NAB AFLW Australia v Ireland match brought together some of the competition's biggest stars and emerging talent for a historic representative clash at North Sydney Oval on Saturday, August 1.
Celebrating the strong connection between AFLW and Ireland, the match highlights the significant contribution Irish players have made to the competition since AFLW began in 2017. In the end, it wasn't Ireland's day, with Australia securing the win with a 91-41 score.
For Dayna, this match is a chance to represent her country in a sport she only picked up three years ago.
Pic: Aobh Nic Ghiolla Phádraig/Instagram
Dayna’s partner Robert Finnerty has packed his bags and headed out to see her. The attacker, a familiar figure to GAA followers, jetted out to Melbourne after Dublin ended Galway's championship dream.
He has been soaking up life Down Under as Dayna prepares for one of the biggest matches of her AFLW career.And it turns out the cross-county romance has deeper Mayo roots than you'd expect.
The pair met when Dayna returned home two Christmases ago and was playing for Salthill at the time. Chatting to EVOKE, she said, 'My dad and his dad played for Mayo together, which is gas.'
Robert Finnerty of Galway during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Dublin and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
While the couple may be oceans apart, the distance doesn’t seem to have a negative impact on their relationship.
While Dayna may be thriving professionally, she is honest about missing home and admits Australia isn't a long-term plan.
Instagram Dayna Finn
'I actually do get quite homesick. I miss family and friends and probably just a bit of home at times,' she says.'I wouldn't settle here for sure. I'm signing for this year and next year as of now, and then we'll reassess.'
However, the former Mayo star is not short of visitors with boyfriend Robert experiencing Aussie life.
Dayna tells us her dad may be out to watch the Ireland clash, her best friends arrive in August, and her mum and brother will follow in late September. So home is never too far away for the Mayo girl.
