Reilly Returns as Mayo Women Reclaim Knockout Football
Maria Reilly has returned to the Mayo ladies football panel in 2026 after a year away, helping her county reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals under new manager Diane O'Hora. The half-forward, who now plays her club football with Na Fianna in Dublin, stepped away from the inter-county set-up in 2025 due to the exhaustion of commuting between teaching and training, but has rediscovered her love for the green and red jersey this season.
Why did Maria Reilly leave Mayo in 2025?
The answer lies in the sheer grind of modern life for inter-county players who are not yet on professional contracts. Reilly was still a teenager when she first joined the Mayo squad back in 2018, becoming a regular presence on the county scene. But the road between Dublin and the west took its toll. She studied at DCU Dóchas Éireann in north Dublin, then took a teaching position at nearby Ardscoil Rís. The constant commuting for training and matches contributed to injuries and burnout.