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Irish Examiner

Hannah Looney won't rule out following Meath's Aoibhín Cleary to AFLW

Hannah Looney will be in Croke Park on Sunday. And no, the multiple All-Ireland winner and All-Star camogie player hasn't got her dates mixed up, she will be supporting her partner, Meath ladies football captain Aoibhín Cleary, in the All-Ireland final. Seven days later the Cork dual star will line out against Galway in the camogie decider. In between, Aoibhín is Australia bound to play AFLW with Richmond in Melbourne. Hannah has the travel bug too and says 'the door isn't closed' on her trying her hand at the Australian Football League. 'No immediate plans, but yeah, it's definitely something that's always been very tempting. 'You never know what will happen and I will definitely get over to her in the winter. Before that I will focus on the club with Aghada (defending their football title) and camogie with Killeagh. 'What I always reflect on is, when I was a kid the dream was to play for Cork and to win All-Irelands and to be living that is very hard to step away from. Who knows in the future, I wouldn't say the door is closed. 'It will be very interesting to see how Aoibhín gets on and I wish her all the best. She leaves on Thursday. 'The professional lifestyle of course is very tempting. We'll see.' Four years ago Hannah got a chance to work in the US. 'I'm a senior chemical engineer with MSD and they are a brilliant, brilliant company. I'm in a global role and do a bit of travel, mainly to Italy. 'I went to New York in September 2021 with MSD and I would have had an opportunity to stay there for the full year. I did love New York but camogie brought me back and I think it always will. 'I came back in June and I got the end of the championship. It is just so hard to step away from such a good thing and it was great to be playing in the All-Ireland final in 2022. Unfortunately we didn't get over the line, it took us another year to do that. 'I'm getting that bit older (28) and it doesn't last forever. You have to enjoy it while you can. 'I know for a fact when I'm finished playing camogie I won't be in Cork. I'll come back eventually. 'We'll figure out the rest of life at some point.' Right now, they are aiming for double honours. 'Aoibhín wouldn't let on a lot about what is happening in the camp but credit to Meath to be in the final. I do know they are such a tight-knit group, they work hard and are really fit and that has brought them back to where they are. They're reaching those peaks that would have won them All-Irelands back in 2021 and 2022. 'It is nearly worse watching because you can't do anything about it. Hopefully they do get over the line because Aoibhín and those girls, they're a special group and I do think another All-Ireland is in them. 'We do learn a lot from each other being in two high-performing camps. 'I think that is why it works in many ways because we get it.'