PRESTON STAR WINS ¤1m
PRESTON left back Kevin O’Connor enjoyed a very happy new year after winning ¤1million (£890,000) on the Irish Lottery’s Christmas Millionaire Raffle! O’Connor, 22, was urged to check his ticket by his mother Breda, who heard the winning numbers had been sold locally. ‘I never really believed that it was the winner of the ¤1million prize,’ he said. ‘We had a game with Middlesbrough on Monday so I completely put it to the back of my head until after the game.’ O’Connor’s uncle Peadar Murphy bought him the winning raffle ticket as a gift. ‘It has been an incredible two days,’ added the defender, who has represented the Republic of Ireland at Under 21 level. ‘But my main focus at the moment is to help Preston climb the Championship and challenge for a Premier League spot.’