€5k raised for Our Lady’s in Battle of the Bridge game

€5k raised for Our Lady’s in Battle of the Bridge game

By Maurice Garvey

NORTH and South Clondalkin battled it out in a benefit match at Moyle Park College recently, in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital.

The Battle of the Bridge was organised by Danny Graham, who was tinkering with the idea for a number of years.

Battle of the Bridge 01

“This year I bit the bullet and approached Damien Long, from the Laurels Pub, and he said go for it.”

The fundraiser fixture was linked in with the Laurels Charity Cycle Crew.

Battle of the Bridge 02

Graham continued: “I spoke to Kevin (Carroll) and Paul (Pollard) – the team captains – and they thought it was fantastic. A lot of the players would be mates. I wouldn’t be at their level, but most of them played in League of Ireland, FAI Junior Cup, Intermediate Cup, and some of the lads played in England. The main thing was that they still have that competitive edge.”

South Clondalkin ran away with it in the second half, but Graham said the real winner was raising close to €5,000 for the hospital.

“It was great but there were a lot of sore bodies on Sunday. There was 18 players on both sides, each of them had to raise €100 to take part, some raised more.

“The first half was close, South leading 2-1 at half-time, but legs tired in the second half, South got the ball down and passed it around really well. Jimmy Hannigan was man of the match, whilst Mark McDonagh got an award for an impression of the Stephen Gerrard slip at the start of the game.”

Danny thanked all the local businesses who supported the event.

He plans to make the match an annual event in the local calendar, and build it up further as a family-friendly day next year.

TAGS
Share This