Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Going GAA GAA after £250,000 scratchcard win
Footballer hits the net with jackpot
A YOUNG Gaelic footballer from Co Tyrone is celebrating his first big win of the season after scooping £250,000 on a National Lottery scratchcard.
Corey Skeffington, 23, a defender for Coalisland Fianna’s newly formed Thirds team, scored big when he bought the winning £250,000 Gold scratchcard at the Mace store on Loughview Road, Coalisland.
The machine operator at Knockloughrim Quarry in Co Derry said he is still coming to terms with his lifechanging win. He said: “You dream of winning this sort of money but you never really think it’ll happen to you.”
Corey, who lives with his aunt Edel and grandmother Maura, recalled how when he realised he’d won, his friends thought it was a prank.
He said: “I genuinely couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“I didn’t say a word. I just sat there staring at the scratchcard and I went as white as a sheet – so much so that my friends were asking what was wrong.
“I called my aunt Edel to break the news and my mum who lives in Scotland. I must admit emotion got the better of me and I cried my eyes out as I told them what had happened. They couldn’t believe it either.”
So what plans has Corey got for his newfound wealth?
He said: “I certainly won’t be rushing into anything.
“I want to spend it wisely, so I’ll probably buy a new car and invest in some property. There are a couple of in July. houses I have my eye on.” Corey became the third winner from Northern Ireland to strike it lucky in recent months as the region enjoys a lucky scratchcard streak.
Robert Fullerton from Castledawson won a massive £300,000 in May, while Shawn Keely from Dungiven scooped an incredible £1million win