Win and get a night out with Stephen
Jessica’s Celebrity Bainisteoir pledge
SOMETIMES players just need an extra bit of motivation to reach their maximum potential.
For some the thought of glory is enough – but this weekend two GAA teams have something far more appetising to aim for.
On one side, there’s the promise of model Roz Purcell, shouting from the sidelines in her bikini if her team bring in a win.
But now her Celebrity Bainisteoir rival Jessica Lawlor has stepped up the reward if her team succeed in the first match of the RTÉ reality show – a night out in Cork courtesy of her footballer boyfriend Stephen Ireland.
She said: ‘I told my team I would bake them cakes which is nothing in comparison to Roz’s promise, so I will have to come up with something even better.
‘Stephen said he would sort out a night for them in Cork and get them bottles of champagne which should get them going.’
However, former Miss Universe Ireland Miss Purcell has pledged to get her sports kit off and train her Longford GAA side in a revealing bikini if they win their first match against Miss Lawlor’s Ballinora GAA team from Waterfall in Cork.
However it could be a case of win-win for the Ballinora side if they seal the deal on Sunday.
‘My team are hoping we will win because Roz will then become my assistant manager and the boys are hoping I can tell her then what to do and convince her to get into a bikini,’ said 26year-old Miss Lawlor.
‘So as well as winning, Roz in a bikini will be an extra bonus – the best thing that will ever happen to them,’ she said.
The young mother has laughed off suggestions of her getting into an itsy bitsy bikini next to the Tipperary model.
‘No – it wouldn’t have the same effect me doing it, unlike Roz. Roz is a 6ft model and I’m 5ftnothing. We are not the same whatsoever,’ she said.
Miss Lawlor was quick to defend the unique training plan of her rival, who is mentoring Longford side Newtowncashel. She said they have even become friends since filming started in May.
‘I think Roz getting into a bikini is a bit of banter and there’s nothing wrong with it. She is just having a laugh and, in my opinion, if you have a body and look like that, then by all means flaunt it.
‘Roz is just having fun with it. We text a lot so it’s going to be weird on Sunday going up against each other as we have become good friends.’
Away from the WAG lifestyle of fake tan and sky- high Lou- boutins, Miss Lawlor struggled to understand the intricacies of GAA. But her Aston Villa boyfriend came to her rescue with training advice and accompanied her to the Cork club a few weeks ago to get involved in one of the training sessions.
‘The first few training sessions were quite tough as you’re going in there cold and straight up I said I wasn’t great with GAA. Soccer I know about obviously because of Stephen, but GAA football was so different and the first few sessions were very nerve wracking. You panic as a girl of 5ft-nothing going in.
‘Stephen gave me ideas on drills and to be motivational and enthusiastic, and what’s important when coaching a team. He knows I’m competitive so he lets me get on with it.
‘Stephen has his own match on Sunday so he won’t be able to come and support me but if we get through hopefully he will be able to come along.’
Growing up in Birmingham until the age of 13, Miss Lawlor’s family then moved to Carrigaline in Cork to raise her and her younger sister.
‘It’s brilliant to be back in Cork – it’s work but it’s great being able to see friends and families and they have come down to training sessions so I can’t complain.’
And Miss Lawlor also ruled out any sign of Ireland returning to play for his country.
‘It’s the same as it was a few months ago, there is nothing happening with it. Nothing has been spoken about and there have been no meetings. It is all exactly the same. I mean I would love for him to play but it’s just a case of timing again and we just have to wait and see.’