Aileen Gilroy

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Aileen Gilroy

| image = Aileen Gilroy 27.03.21.jpg

| caption = Gilroy playing Australian rules football with North Melbourne in March 2021

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|03|01|df=y}}

| birth_place = Killala, County Mayo, Ireland

| originalteam =

| draftpick = 2019 rookie signing

| debutdate = Round 1, 2020

| debutteam = {{AFLW|NM}}

| debutopponent = {{AFLW|Mel}}

| debutstadium = Casey Fields

| height = 172 cm

| weight =

| position = Defender

| currentclub = {{AFLW|Haw}}

| guernsey = 7

| years1 = 2020–2022 (S6)

| club1 = {{AFLW|NM}}

| games_goals1 = 28 (0)

| years2 = 2022 (S7)–

| club2 = {{AFLW|Haw}}

| games_goals2 = 20 (7)

| games_goalstotal = 48 (7)

| statsend = 2023

| careerhighlights =

}}

Aileen Gilroy (born 1 March 1993) is an Australian rules footballer playing for Hawthorn in the AFL Women's (AFLW). Gilroy signed with North Melbourne as a rookie during the 2019 rookie signing period in August.{{cite news|url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2019-08-30/aflw-irishwoman-commits|title=AFLW: Irishwoman commits|date=30 August 2019|work=North Melbourne Football Club|publisher=Telstra Media|accessdate=23 February 2020}} She made her debut against Melbourne at Casey Fields in the opening round of the 2020 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/round-1-aflw-teams-and-expert-tips-20200206-p53ycx.html|title=Round 1 AFLW teams and expert tips|date=6 February 2020|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|accessdate=23 February 2020}}

Australian rules football career

On 30 August 2019, Gilroy signed with North Melbourne as a rookie during the 2019 rookie signing period, joining her fellow countrywoman Mairéad Seoighe at the club.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/mayo-aflw-aileen-gilroy-north-melbourne-4788556-Aug2019/|title=Mayo midfielder becomes latest player to make AFLW move in signing for North Melbourne|date=30 August 2019|work=The42.ie|publisher=TheJournal.ie|accessdate=23 February 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0830/1071772-mayos-aileen-gilroy-signs-for-north-melbourne/|title=Mayo's Aileen Gilroy signs for AFLW side North Melbourne|date=30 August 2019|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|accessdate=8 May 2020}} Quickly establishing herself as a fan-favourite,{{cite news|url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/565860/a-dream-come-true|first=Dan|last=Woods|title="A dream come true"|date=19 February 2020|work=North Melbourne Football Club|publisher=Telstra Media|accessdate=8 May 2020}} Gilroy made 7 appearances for the Kangaroos in 2020, averaging almost 10 disposals a game, and finished fifth in the best-and-fairest count.{{cite news|url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/587206/aflw-garner-wins-best-and-fairest|title=AFLW: Garner wins Best and Fairest|date=24 April 2020|work=North Melbourne Football Club|publisher=Telstra Media|accessdate=8 May 2020}} It was revealed she signed on with the club for two more seasons on 17 June 2021, tying her to the club until the end of 2023.{{cite web|title=AFLW: Roos eye the future|url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/959490/aflw-roos-eye-the-future|last1=Zanardo|first1=Karla|access-date=19 June 2021|work=North Media|date=17 June 2021}} In May 2022, Gilroy surprisingly joined expansion club Hawthorn, after telling North Melbourne she would recommit to them.{{cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1139740/hawthorn-makes-history-with-first-irish-aflw-signing|title=Hawthorn makes history with first Irish AFLW signing|publisher=Telstra Media|work=Hawthorn|date=30 May 2022}}

= Statistics =

Updated to the end of 2023.{{cite web|title=Aileen Gilroy|url=https://australianfootball.com/Players/player/Aileen%20Gilroy/20929|work=Australian Football|accessdate=8 May 2020}}

| 2020 || {{AFLW|NM}} || 8

| 7 || 0 || 0 || 50 || 18 || 68 || 12 || 8 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 7.1 || 2.6 || 9.7 || 1.7 || 1.1 || 0

| 2021 || {{AFLW|NM}} || 8

| 10 || 0 || 1 || 102 || 20 || 122 || 21 || 28 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 10.2 || 2.0 || 12.2 || 2.1 || 2.8 || 0

| 2022 (S6) || {{AFLW|NM}} || 8

| 11 || 0 || 1 || 102 || 30 || 132 || 19 || 23 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 9.3 || 2.7 || 12.0 || 1.7 || 2.1 || 1

| 2022 (S7) || {{AFLW|Haw}} || 7

| 10 || 3 || 5 || 112 || 11 || 123 || 14 || 53 || 0.3 || 0.5 || 11.2 || 1.1 || 12.3 || 1.4 || 5.3 || 0

| 2023 || {{AFLW|Haw}} || 7

| 10 || 4 || 4 || 94 || 21 || 115 || 16 || 41 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 9.4 || 2.1 || 11.5 || 1.6 || 4.1 || 0

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3 | Career

! 48 !! 7 !! 11 !! 460 !! 100 !! 560 !! 82 !! 153 !! 0.1 !! 0.1 !! 9.6 !! 2.1 !! 11.7 !! 1.7 !! 3.2 !! 1

Gaelic football career

= Club =

At club level, Gilroy has played for St Brigids and IT Sligo. In 2009, she was voted Connacht Young Player of the Year.{{cite news|url=https://ladiesgaelic.ie/cork-dominate-30th-ladies-football-all-stars-awards/|title=Cork Dominate 30th Ladies Football All Stars Awards|date=16 November 2009|publisher=Ladies' Gaelic Football Association|accessdate=8 May 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/ladies-football/2009/1116/257443-ladiesallstars/|title=Ladies All-Stars announced|date=16 November 2009|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|accessdate=8 May 2020}}

= Inter-county =

In 2017, she won her first All-Star.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/1126/922915-six-all-star-awards-for-all-ireland-champions-dublin/|title=Six All Star awards for All-Ireland champions Dublin|date=26 November 2017|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|accessdate=8 May 2020}}

Association football career

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Aileen Gilroy

| fullname = Aileen Gilroy

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1993|03|01}}

| birth_place = Killala, County Mayo, Ireland

| height = 172 cm

| position = Midfielder, Forward

| youthyears1=

| youthclubs1= Killala AFC

| collegeyears1=

| college1=

| years1 = 2011–2014

| clubs1 = Castlebar Celtic

| caps1=

| goals1 =

| nationalyears1=

| nationalteam1= Republic of Ireland U17

| nationalcaps1=

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2=

| nationalteam2= Republic of Ireland U19

| nationalcaps2=

| nationalgoals2 =

| nationalyears3=

| nationalteam3= Republic of Ireland

| nationalcaps3=

| nationalgoals3 =

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

}}

= Youth =

A Killala native, Gilroy attended St. Patrick's College, Lacken Cross{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/life/family/learning/aileen-finishes-first-leg-of-her-big-week-26662845.html|title=Aileen finishes first leg of her big week|first=Katherine|last=Donnelly|date=25 June 2010|work=Irish Independent|accessdate=7 May 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.mayonews.ie/sports/6075-lacken-cross-into-history|title=Lacken Cross into history|date=9 March 2009|work=The Mayo News|accessdate=7 May 2020|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921140917/https://www.mayonews.ie/sports/6075-lacken-cross-into-history|url-status=dead}} and played youth football for Killala AFC. In February 2010, she helped St. Patrick's College win the Umbro FAI Schools Senior B Girls All-Ireland Final against St Kilian's German School.{{cite news|url=https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/st-patrick%E2%80%99s-day-in-longford|title=St. Patrick’s Day in Longford|date=17 February 2010|work=Football Association of Ireland|accessdate=7 May 2020}}

= Club =

In 2011, Gilroy signed for Castlebar Celtic, one of the six teams that competed in the WNL's inaugural 2011–12 season, and stayed at the club until 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.extratime.ie/player/11113185/aileen_gilroy/|title=Aileen Gilroy|work=Extratime.ie|accessdate=7 May 2020}}

= International =

As a teenager, Gilroy represented the Republic of Ireland at U17 and U19 level. She represented Ireland at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, where Ireland reached the quarter-finals. In June 2013, she was named to the squad for the 2013 Summer Universiade.{{cite news|url=https://wnl.fai.ie/news/244-student-sport-ireland-ready-for-world-university-games.html|title=Student Sport Ireland ready for World University Games|date=30 June 2013|work=Women's National League|accessdate=7 May 2020}}

In February 2014, Gilroy received her first senior call-up.{{cite news|url=https://castlebarceltic.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/aileen-gilroy-named-in-irish-senior-squad/|title=Aileen Gilroy Named In Irish Senior Squad|date=21 February 2014|work=Castlebar Celtic|accessdate=7 May 2020}}