Laura Duryea


Laura Duryea, previously known as Laura Corrigan and also referred to as Laura Corrigan Duryea, is a women's [Australian rules football]er best known for her professional career with in the AFLW and for representing Ireland women's national [Australian rules football team|Ireland] multiple times in the Australian [Football International Cup].
She originally played senior ladies' Gaelic football for Cavan senior [ladies' football team|Cavan] and Victoria however decided to switch preferring the increased physicality of Australian Football, and wore the number at Melbourne of the late Irish Hall of Famer Jim Stynes.

Early years, family and education

Duryea is originally from Ireland. She was raised in the Drumlane, Belturbet and Milltown area of County Cavan. She is the daughter of Ian Corrigan, an Irish country singer. Her father and brothers played Gaelic football for Drumlane. She was educated at Loreto College, Cavan and RMIT.
In 2008, Duryea arrived in St Kilda, Victoria while travelling. She ended up staying in the Melbourne area and eventually settled in Rosebud, Mornington Peninsula. In 2016, she married Richard Duryea.

Gaelic football

Clubs

While living in County Cavan, Duryea played for Drumlane and Erne Gaels. After moving to Melbourne she played for Sinn Féin.

Inter-county

Duryea has also played senior ladies' Gaelic football for Cavan and Victoria. In 2006 Duryea played for a representative team known as the Underdogs while participating in the TG4 reality show of the same name. During the show, the Underdogs played against Meath, Laois and Cork.

Australian rules football

VWFL

In 2008 while playing ladies' Gaelic football at Gaelic Park in Keysborough, an opponent suggested Duryea should try women's Australian rules football and invited her to a training session with the Victorian [Women's Football League|VWFL] team, Melbourne University. After a season with Melbourne University, Duryea switched to Diamond Creek. She subsequently played for Diamond Creek in seven VWFL Premier Division grand finals, helping them win the 2012 VFWL Premiership Cup.

Melbourne

In 2016 [AFL Women's draft|2016] Duryea was recruited to play for in the AFLW. On 5 February 2017 she made her AFLW debut against at Casey Fields. In the opening game of the 2018 season she played for Melbourne against Cora Staunton, making her debut for. Duryea and Staunton were the first and second Irish players to feature in the AFLW.

Ireland

Duryea has played for Ireland in the
Australian Football International Cup, helping Ireland win the cup in both 2011 [Australian Football International Cup|2011] and 2017.
TournamentsPlace
2011 Australian Football International Cup1st
2014 Australian Football International Cup2nd
2017 Australian Football International Cup1st

Teacher

Duryea is a primary school teacher. She taught PE in Dublin before emigrating to Australia. She has worked as teacher at Montmorency South Primary School and Dromana Primary School.

Honours

;Diamond Creek
;Ireland