Mayo's Rachel Kearns almost pursued a path to the Olympic Games

Mayo's Rachel Kearns won two All-Ireland boxing medals and 'kind of missed that phase and I regretted giving it up at the time because I would have given the Olympics a go'

MULTI-TALENTED: Rachel Kearns of Mayo in action against Ailbhe Davoren of Galway during the Connacht final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

She might be set to resume her AFL Women’s career in the autumn, but that won’t prevent Rachel Kearns from donning the green and red of Mayo in this year’s TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship.

A multi-talented sports star, Kearns signed terms with Aussie Rules outfit Geelong in July 2021 — a few months after showcasing her soccer skills at Galway United in the Women’s National League. At the end of the same year, the MacHale Rovers ace also picked up her second TG4 All-Star following a haul of 2-17 (0-8f) across five championship appearances.