FOOTBALL RIVALS CROSS DIVISION TO HELP OMAGH
Football rivals cross division to help Omagh
BY JOHN MCCUSKER
LAST Saturday's friendly international in Dublin in aid of the Omagh Fund has been hailed a success - despite the low turn out at the fixture.
A crowd of over 12,000 saw Northern Ireland pull off a 1-0 victory over the Republic in the game which was played at Lansdowne Road.
Organisers hope proceeds from the match will provide a six-figure sum boost to the fund set up for those who suffered as a result of last August's bomb attack.
Among the attendance at the game were Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and Foreign Affairs Minister, David Andrews, and a number of young people from the Omagh area also participated in the occasion.
Student, Christopher Gallagher - whose sister Claire was seriously injured in the explosion - led out the Republic side for the special fundraiser, while Dubliner, Anthony Brady was chosen as mascot for the Northern Ireland team.
Six young people from the Omagh area also took part in the Pre-match ceremonies. Prior to the Kick-off, Nicola Kelly, Joanne Jones, Rory Kelly, Nigel Humphrey, Peter Graham and Darryl Craig carried the FIFA fair play onto the pitch.
During the half time interval, Derry City chairman, Kevin Friel presented a cheque of �50,000 to fund representative, Frank Sweeney. The money had been raised following last year's friendly at the Brandwell which saw a Mick Mc Carthy National League 11 take on the home side.
And two football fans from Harrowgate in Yorkshire also gave the fund a welcome boost, Steve Lawes and David Derbyshire undertook a charity walk from their home town to Dublin and donated the money collected along the way towards the fund.
Speaking after the game, Frank Sweeney, co-ordinator of Fundraising, said the match represented a very important occasion - not only for the Omagh Fund, but also as a result of the joint approach from what were traditionally rival oppositions.
"What we had here was the biggest fixture within Ireland, and that in itself made for a very special occasion."
"What was significant was the fact that two teams who have a history of intense rivalry, came together to play a friendly on behalf of the Omagh Fund."
Many people within the sport look back at the last thirty years of pain and hurt and acknowledge that Omagh has got to be a turning point.
"And the fact that the two football organisations can come together to organise this game and 12,000 people can come and support it, is very significant" he added.
A spokesperson for the Football Association of Ireland said players had also donated their match fees for the day in order to maximise the proceeds from the game.
"Although all gate monies from the match have been lifted, it will be some time before we know what the final sum will be as sponsorship and advertising have yet to be counted."
"We will then be making arrangements to hand over the cheque to representatives of the fund" he added.
BY JOHN MCCUSKER
LAST Saturday's friendly international in Dublin in aid of the Omagh Fund has been hailed a success - despite the low turn out at the fixture.
A crowd of over 12,000 saw Northern Ireland pull off a 1-0 victory over the Republic in the game which was played at Lansdowne Road.
Organisers hope proceeds from the match will provide a six-figure sum boost to the fund set up for those who suffered as a result of last August's bomb attack.
Among the attendance at the game were Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and Foreign Affairs Minister, David Andrews, and a number of young people from the Omagh area also participated in the occasion.
Student, Christopher Gallagher - whose sister Claire was seriously injured in the explosion - led out the Republic side for the special fundraiser, while Dubliner, Anthony Brady was chosen as mascot for the Northern Ireland team.
Six young people from the Omagh area also took part in the Pre-match ceremonies. Prior to the Kick-off, Nicola Kelly, Joanne Jones, Rory Kelly, Nigel Humphrey, Peter Graham and Darryl Craig carried the FIFA fair play onto the pitch.
During the half time interval, Derry City chairman, Kevin Friel presented a cheque of �50,000 to fund representative, Frank Sweeney. The money had been raised following last year's friendly at the Brandwell which saw a Mick Mc Carthy National League 11 take on the home side.
And two football fans from Harrowgate in Yorkshire also gave the fund a welcome boost, Steve Lawes and David Derbyshire undertook a charity walk from their home town to Dublin and donated the money collected along the way towards the fund.
Speaking after the game, Frank Sweeney, co-ordinator of Fundraising, said the match represented a very important occasion - not only for the Omagh Fund, but also as a result of the joint approach from what were traditionally rival oppositions.
"What we had here was the biggest fixture within Ireland, and that in itself made for a very special occasion."
"What was significant was the fact that two teams who have a history of intense rivalry, came together to play a friendly on behalf of the Omagh Fund."
Many people within the sport look back at the last thirty years of pain and hurt and acknowledge that Omagh has got to be a turning point.
"And the fact that the two football organisations can come together to organise this game and 12,000 people can come and support it, is very significant" he added.
A spokesperson for the Football Association of Ireland said players had also donated their match fees for the day in order to maximise the proceeds from the game.
"Although all gate monies from the match have been lifted, it will be some time before we know what the final sum will be as sponsorship and advertising have yet to be counted."
"We will then be making arrangements to hand over the cheque to representatives of the fund" he added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1267
Published Date: 03-Jun-99
Related Images
