Paula and Andrew’s teams battle it out
WHILE EVERYONE knows that brother’s and sisters are naturally competitive, Paula and Andrew O’Leary took their sibling rivalry to the soccer pitch recently as they put together two teams to square off for a special charity match.
Andrew lost his loving partner Louise Shanahan last year from complications arising from diabetes and so family and friends decided that a charity match would be a great way of raising money for Diabetes Ireland and keeping Louise’s memory alive.
Following a very successful charity game last year, Paula was 1-0 up over her brother and Andrew was determined to set the record straight as his team took to Ajax’s pitch in wet weather conditions, which meant that referee Cllr John O’Rourke had to be on his toes as the tackles flew in. In the end, Andrew’s team ran out winners, setting it up for an interesting showdown next year.
Originally from Tipperary, Louise’s parents Anne and Paddy, siblings Nessa and Ronan and nieces made the journey to Wexford specially for the game and were delighted to meet with Louise’s Enniscorthy friends.
The money raised from the event is still being tallied, but Paula is hopeful that they can surpass last year’s total and once again provide Diabetes Ireland with a financial boost.
‘We’d like to thank everyone who came out and played and anyone who helped in any way,’ she said. ‘I’d specially like to thank Biddy Brookes and Mag Murphy, this wouldn’t have happened without them, and also Padraig Long who donated a bouncy castle for the kids.’