The annual St. Stephen’s Day match between Ballindine and Irishtown, for the Michael Mooney Memorial Cup, will be held in Davitt Park, with a 1pm throw-in. This year’s game will be contested by two teams, consisting of players over the age of 25, who are currently not members of Davitts senior team panel.

All proceeds from the game will be going to former Davitts footballer, Martin Cosgrove, who is suffering from Primary Lateral Sclerosis, a rare neurological disease, and he is now confined to a wheelchair. Martin from Meelick, was a brilliant underage footballer with Davitts in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won two Mayo U-21 titles with Davitts in 1984 and 1985, captaining the team in 1984. Unfortunately, at that time, immigration was rampant, especially in the West of Ireland, and the club lost several promising young players, including Martin, who left for England in 1986. Martin is married to Dundalk native Veronica who he met in London. They now live in Meigh, Co. Armagh, and have three children, Jamie, Niamh and Kierán.

They are in a position that no family would want to be in but unfortunately, you don’t know what is around the corner, so any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated.