St Rynagh's ladies take on the lads in the name of charity

Eighteen-year-old Offaly footballer Ciara McCormack from Cloghan is lining up alongside a number of other ladies from St Rynagh’s to take on their male counterparts in a charity match this weekend, in a bid to raise money for a good cause.

Ciara, a second year physiotherapy student at UCD, is all set to travel to Thailand on May 26 with her friend Joanne Lyons from Birr, who’s studying law in Galway.

The two have plans to work in an orphanage in the southern Thailand town of Krabi for three weeks with Projects Abroad, but must raise €2,500 before they go to ensure the trip happens.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent Ciara said this Saturday’s charity match - which will be refereed by councillor John Leahy - is her main fundraiser, while Joanne has plans for a table quiz in The Chestnut pub in Birr on May 16.

“Every little big of money will help us,” Ciara said, explaining that she’ll be working in an orphanage with approximately 40 children doing everything from teaching the children the alphabet to bathing them. “They don’t have anybody else,” she said.

With only €600 raised so far, Ciara is hoping this Saturday’s game - along with a barbecue sponsored by local butcher Garry Daly and a shop stocked by Ciaran Daly - will bring her closer to the total she needs. Brosna Press has also helped her efforts by printing posters for the event.

For just €5 peradult and €3 per child locals will get to see Ciara and her teammates - including fellow All-Ireland champions Emma Corcoran, Siobhan Flannery and Linda Sullivan - do their best to defeat a St Rynagh’s men’s team.

Separate donations can also be made on the day, while sponsorship cards are also in circulation in the locality.

Shouting for Ciara on the day will be her parents Siobhan Doyle and Bernard McCormack, as well as her older sister Hannah and baby sister Aimee.

If you’d like to be there too, the game will kick off at 6pm on Saturday, April 26 in Cloghan sports field.