Tanya Kennedy's winning AFLW debut as Sydney Swans produce whirlwind last quarter

Tanya Kennedy's first appearance for the Sydney Swans in the AFLW ended in a dramatic comeback victory against the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

Swans produced 16 unanswered points in the final quarter to win out on a 51-46 scoreline, having trailed 46-29 towards the end of the third quarter.

Kennedy, a native of Castlefin, flew home earlier this year to help Donegal upset Armagh in the LGFA Senior Ulster final before returning to Australia. She then joined up with Swans and was confirmed as a first-time starter last week.

Greater Western Sydney Giants made the early running and were 9-0 up at the end of the first quarter and then looking good at 27-13 at half-time. However, Swans put everything into the closing stages to complete a fantastic comeback win.

It marked the conclusion of three Donegal appearances over the weekend in the AWFL, with Yvonne Bonner on her first outing for Adelaide Crows on her return on Saturday, having previously lined up for Greater Western Sydney Giants. The Glenfin native struck two goals for her new side in their 58-28 win over Port Adelaide.

Niamh McLaughlin, the Donegal captain from Moville, was making her first appearance Down Under, for Gold Coast Suns against Carlton Blues, also on Saturday.

The Suns kicked the game’s final three goals, narrowing the deficit from 23 points to just two with minutes to play, but were unable to quite reign the Blues in, losing out in the end on a 34-32 scoreline.